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FESTIVALS NAGALAND : CHANGS

According to the oral traditional stories of the the Chang tribe. It is said that they have emerged from a place known as “Changsangmongko” and settled at a place called “CHANGSANG”. This was the first named village for Changs. There, at the centre of the village, they constructed a platform called “MULLANG SHON”.

 

It is a platform of progress and prosperity, which became the public court for deliberating all the major issues and cases which were heard and judgment delivered accordingly. Social issues like village administration, cultivation, festivals, worship, marriage systems, boundaries of the land, war and peace-making were also taken up in the platform. Decision delivered and judgments passed from this Mullang Shon became the final order.

The Changs usually observe six major festivals in a year, out of which three festivals namely (1) Poang lem (2) Jeinyu Lem and (3) kundang lem were monitored by Haongang Clan. The remaining three festivals (1) Muong Lem (2) naknyu Lem and (3) Monyu lem were monitored by Ung clan. In this way the tradition was maintained for generation and is followed till date.
The counting of the days and the fixation of the festivals were made on the following manner : At the time of counting the days for the fixation of festival, a chicken offering is made for appeasing the Gods. Each clan while performing such a ritual has to observe much sanctity. All festivals were fixed six days ahead except the KUNDANG LEM and NAKNYU LEM. The Kundang Lem was treated as the youngest and was fixed five days ahead, whereas the Naknyu lem was treated with much awe and so was fixed just two day ahead. It should start on the dark moon day as the main festival day.


KUNDANG LEM :
Kundang Lem is observed in the eighth month April if the Chang calendar. The festival is observed for five days only. During the first three days, materials for construction of field huts in Jhum cultivated areas are collected and the area is tested on the fourth day. On the fifth day the relatives collectively go to the fields for constructing of the houses. The sixth day is also kept for feasting. The seventh day is observed “AOLAAK JAANGBU” – planting or raising a kind of tree which bears bunched of sour fruits. A daughter born within this month is named as KUNDANG.


NAKNYU LEM :
It was believed that in ancient days, during the forefather’s time, the entire world was enveloped with the total darkness and day and night could not be differentiated. The darkness was so thick that people could not even go out for collection of firewood and water. They remained inside their homes for six days and by then they ran short of everything. In order to keep the fire burning inside homes, they burnt every available thing and when nothing was left they were compelled to burn even the horns of buffaloes, Mithuns and cows that were hung in front of the houses.

On the seventh day the light came as usual. The people of the earth became extremely happy and by way of thanks to God this Naknyu Lem was held. During Naknyu Lem, no worship is performed but certain rules are strictly observed. This festival is held on the eleventh month of the Chang Calendar which falls during July. The counting of the days and the announcing of the day is made by the Ungshedbou of Ung Clan. It should be a sudden announcement leaving two days gap only. It starts on the last day of the moon i.e. flour grinding day. Domestic animals are slaughtered, young and old spin tops, while music and laughter pervades from the womenfolk's they play the Kongkhin (flute) made out of bamboo splits. Village streets are swept and houses and their surroundings are cleaned while firewood and water are stocked.

The second day, which is the dark moon day is called “Youjem”. On this day no one goes our of the village, even for drawing water. There are exchanges of gifts and food items amongst friends and relatives. Meat, wine and freshly packed bread are abundantly used. Games like Top spinning, tug – of – war, high jump, long jump, climbing of oiled pole and jumping and grapping big lumps of well cooked meat hung in rows along a bamboo rope are played. The womenfolk play on the Kongkhim. They too compete with each other with the instruments. Men and women, young and old, all engage themselves in feasting and merrymaking the whole day but do not indulge in dancing.

On this occasion the footpath and all the houses are decorated by placing leaves; a kind of herbal shrub called “NGOUUNAAM” (Eiziholfziablanda). It is a must to plant this shrub in front of every house to ward off evil spirits. The people, especially the children, put the leaves in their ear lobes so that no evil spirits will harm them. In the evening, the time time of sunset, everybody remains inside the house. No man walks or roams outside. During this hour, in the front and back doors of every house a seed called “Vui land” (tape seeds) is buried inside paddy husks and burned. Every member of the family remains still to hear the bursting sound of the seed. The tape seed explodes and if the sound and the exploding fragments bounce back towards the house, it is a bad omen and if the sound is good and the fragments bounce off it means good fortune. At this hour, “Shambuli Muhgha”, a God from heaven descends and visits every house and any one found inside is harmed. The third day is the day of cleaning the village surroundings and approach roads. After the celebration of this festival other activities like cleaning of paths to the fields and neighboring villages start. A daughter born in this month is names as Monyu.

   
 
 
NAGALAND FESTIVALS : CHANGS
   

 

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