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However, in order to
carve unity and uniformity among
the ranges. Wokha elders decided
to celebrate it on a fixed date.
Following this. Tokhü Emong is
celebrated on 7th November,
every year.
During this festival, the entire
village takes part in the
celebration. Every household have
food and drink prepared for the
feast. Friends, families,
neighbors are invited to each
other’s house and this continues
for days. The main features of
the feast are community songs,
dances, feast, fun and frolic.
Everyone attires themselves in
their beautiful traditional
dresses and costumes according
to their social status. There is
an air of gaiety and light
heartedness everywhere. Gifts of
food and drinks are exchanged
during the festival. Among
friends, the number of cooked
meat given denotes the depth pf
friendship and ties. For
example, if one man offers 12
pieces of meat to his friend, it
shows hat he treasures his
friendship, if it is
reciprocated and he is also
offered 12 pieces of meat, it
means that the friendship is
valued from both sides.
In this case, should any disaster
or misfortune strike either one
of them, both of them will stand
by each other no matter what.
Thus a friendship of loyalty and
fidelity was pledged. In case of
mere acquaintances or platonic
ones, only 6 pieces of meat are
exchanged. It is the priest who gives the
signal for the start of the
festival. He accompanied by
Aides (Yinga) along with baskets
goes round the village
collecting un-husked rice from
every home. When offering is
made, the priests takes a
handful of it, showers prayers
and it is only after this that
he puts the contribution in his
basket. The belief that the more
generous the contribution, the
more yield one would get during
harvest but if any one refuses
to contribute, he would lead a
pauper’s life. So none would
dare to refuse contributions for
fear of that. A portion of the
collection is used to buy a pig
and the rest is used for making
rice beer. the pig is killed and
cut and is distributed to the
contributors. This ritual is
considered as a contributing
factor to general prosperity.
Before the commencement of the
festival, if any stranger happens
to be in the village, he gets
two options; to leave the
village (past beyond the village
gate) before sunset or to stay
there in the village until the
festival is over. He however,
enjoys the warm hospitability to
the villagers. This festival
also provides the occasion to
offer prayers for the departed
soul. The family who lost any
member during the year performs
his/her last rites. The people
remain in the village till the
last rites are preformed. Young boys and girls engaged
during the year are happily
married after Tokhü, it is also
the time for renovating the
village gate, cleaning wells and
repairing houses. Tokhü Emong is
also a festival of thanksgiving,
sharing and reconciliation but
the most beautiful aspect of
this festival is that past rancours are forgiven, new ties
are formed and bonds of closer
intimacy are created.
Wild cries of joy-echo over the
green hills and narrow valleys.
One feels as if the stones have
been given tongue to say “oh!
Farmers, tend your fields with
love and care”. |