Tasile N. Zeliang, Jaluikie B
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he Zeliangrong Nagas are one of the indigenous of North East India occupying a compact and contiguous area in the Barail Mountain Range covering Peren District of Nagaland, Dima Hasao District of Assam and western Hills of Manipur. Although they lived in a compact geographical area, the British people divided them for their administrative convenience, which affected the unity of the people. Thus, they lived divided in their own compact area.
The festivals of the Zeliangrong Naga people are a cultural expression of their religious belief. Festivals are an aesthetic form of worship of God. Since the Zeliangrong people are an agrarian community, their festivals are performed in all seasons according to their agricultural Lunar calendar and every festivals is associated with a stage of the agricultural operations in the year. The festivals are associates with their religion, the worship of the Supreme God ‘Tingwang’ with worship for success in cultivation and for beautiful harvest.
Talking about Zeliangrong festivals one naturally has to bring in the heritage of dance and music developed by Zeliangrong people. It is believed that their ancestors learned dancing and singing from the Gods and Creatures. Zeliangrong ancestors learnt dancing from Gods, animals, birds and insects. The performance of Heraka devotional songs and dances of Zeliangrong are not composed by man but by God gift through Freedom Fighter Padmbhushan Rani Ma Gaidinliu.
The Zeliangrong dances have three main categories; (i) the ritual dances (ii) the festival dances and (iii)warrior dances
Meaning of Salutation at the beginning of Dance:
a) To Almighty God who created a beautiful and wonderful art.
b) To their fellow friend to whom they performing the art
Meaning of Salutation at the end of Dance:-
a) To audience who give respect to art and artists.
THE THEME OF THE FESTIVAL DANCE
The Zeliangrong brethren and the community lovers, come forward and rise up and dance around, this is an occasion of joy and happiness, keep aside all our worries and miseries. This festival dance are like the magnificent Hornbill that soar high up in the sky with all its splendorous and eloquent moves; like the sweet flowers of spring and the fluttering wings of the colorful butterflies, what a rich and wonderful heritage, thanks to Almighty God and our ancestors for giving us such a beautiful and incredible culture and tradition we have got today, come and witness the beauty of our dance.
Feel the world with love, peace, joy and happiness. It’s our culture and tradition promoting. Let’s compete to soar higher in the sky.
This is Zeliangrong Naga – the peace lovers.
The writer can be contacted at zeliangtasile@gmail.com
