Angamis celebrate festival of purification, Sekrenyi-2021

KOHIMA: The Angami tribe of Nagaland is celebrating the festival of purification: 'Sekrenyi-2021'. While the festival is usually celebrated in February especially by the Angamis living in the northern and western parts of the State, those living in the southern part of the State celebrate the festival during December.

They call this particular day as 'Phousanyi' or the 'Festival of Purification'. Celebrated for a time period extending from seven to 13 days, the fest seeks welfare and prosperity of the villagers. It also marks the commencement of their 'New Year' for which the purification rituals are performed.

How the festival is celebrated? After the head priest declares the dates of the festival, everyone gets busy for the celebration. The womenfolk starts weaving beautiful handmade shawls for their partners which they are supposed to wear during the rituals of purification. The period prior to four-five days of the festival is termed as 'Genna'; and rice beer is prepared during this pre-fest phase.

The Kizhie rituals are performed by the women on the first day. They tie leaf cups with 'zumhou', prepared from soaked rice into it and hang them on the central post of the house and paddy barns in order to worship the Almighty to bless their family with welfare and prosperity. On the next day, they crush the soaked rice in water and add yeast to it to prepare the 'Zutho' (rice beer).

For the purification rituals, the men of the house especially the young unmarried men clean the wells of the house; and on the next morning, they bathe and also wash their weapons and garments from the water of the well. This is done so that they purify everything on that day. They also take some water for their family.

After returning to their homes, the men slaughter a chicken, and cook the meat in a separate oven. However, the females don't have this meal.

The community also offers the local rice beer to the spirit of the well and pray that the well never dries up and keep on providing pure water to the village. they gather wild fruits and flowers to adorn their respective houses and prepare to worship their ancestors.

'Thekra hie' is the very fascinating part of the celebration when the people gather together, sing traditional folk songs the entire day. They are cordially served meats and rice beer.

On the fourth and fifth days, they gather wood pieces, stones, and corks besides other such items from the jungle to prepare bracelets, necklaces, and various other ornaments as gifts for their loved ones.

On the sixth and seventh days people spend time with their family members at home. On the eighth day, the ceremony of bridge pulling or gate-pulling is performed. It is the prime attraction of the festival. The villagers also pay social visits during the day.

On the final day, all kinds of food items are cooked and distributed among the villagers. (Agencies)

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