❇️INTRODUCTIONS ❇️
✴️Local Festival of Zeliangrong (Naga)✴️
The Zeliangrong Festival are performed in all the seasons in almost every month of the agriculture operations of the farmer calendar. Every festival is related with stage of agricultural operation. Festivals are also related with religion. Worship of TingWang or Tingkao Raguang (Supreme God) for successful cultivator, good health and plentiful harvest. There are organised by the village elders or authority. The ward festival is known as Hega or 'Ngi in Zeliangrong dialects.
Onene of the major or biggest festival of the Zeliangrong is "HEGA 'NGI OR NGAN NGAI".
🔆HEGA 'NGI:🖋️ Hega 'Ngi festival is the biggest festival of Zeliangrong people. It is observed in the month of Ndui or Kere lei (December, January) Hega 'Ngi literally means hega (Boon or Good Luck) and it is also called as the year ending festival. It is believed that those people whosever get chance to observe Hega 'Ngi festival is considered to be the luckiest person, who could succeed in all his/her cultivating work of the year by the blessings of the Almighty Tingwang (Supreme God) As such, the first day of the festival is observed as the Tingwang Mpua peibe mai (Offering Day) of newly Cultivated crops to Almighty Tingwang.
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💎In the olden days, this Hega 'Ngi festival was observed for five or more days. But due to the society adreamcement of educational system in the society, ritual caremories like Mpe tuabe mai (Mpe means wooden evil effigy) mpe kap bemai, Hekaugua bemai, Teriadamai etc. have been abolished. The observance of (Hega 'Ngi festival has thus been shortened to three day only.
🔆The first day of the festival is observed as "Tingwang Mpua Mai" (Offering Day) of newly cultivated crops to Almighty God (Tingwang) seeking his blessings for cultivation of more crops and good health of the village in the following year.
🔆The second day is observed as "Ngi Di Mai" (The main festival day) It is the day of the sports such, long-jump there put, wrestling etc. All the aged men and young men with full traditional attires march in procession doing Rehoi (Shouting). It starts from lowers side of the village and march to the upper side and them from upper to lower side of the village people costly stop Rehoi at the HEZUADEKUNG. There they start long - jump and then do short put. after competition of sports, all spectators enjoy the festival feast in group.
🔆One the third day of festival it is observed as the Puapet Mai (Day of merry-making eating and drinking festival feast). This day is also observed by villages Marching village procession with full customary dresses as usual and to proceed to wards maximum harvest owner's house in the village (Nteu tuakki) and the to Nteu - Nraikakki "(the host house for consecrating serve on a particular selected by of village by the priest.)"
✏️ Conclusion: Festival is the part and parcel of every culture and community. The Zeliangrong people are proud of it's rich cultivated heritage. Which include dresses, custom and ornament, religions belief, moral law, love of life through festival dance and song, music etc. Maintaining of peace and unity in the village and learn traditional religions and culture handicraft, folks songs, folkstade dances and music through Festival.
#happyfestival #harvestfestival #hega #ngi