Festivals

Hega

The Hega festival is one of the most important and the largest festivals among the Zeliang community. It falls in the month of February from 10th to 15th every year. It is a festival invoking the Almighty God to shower his blessing upon his people with richness, luck and courage. It is also a festival of joy, rest and get-together. On this day, people pray to Almighty God for protection and guidance. On this festival young couples are united for their future. The festival is announced earlier and all the preparations are done before-hand. The festival begins with a variety of programmes and merrymaking. The festival last for five days. The first day is known as Hega Teu Dap, the second day is known as Herie Kap, the third day is known as Tsing Rak, the fourth day is known as Rodi and the last day of Hega is known as Koksui.

Chega Gadi

Chega Gadi is another important and popular festival of the Zeliang people. The genesis of this festival marks the people’s belief that on this day the Almighty showers blessings and brings good harvest and health. However, the date for the celebration often differs between communities and villages which usually is fixed according to their convenience. The Liangmai Community celebrates this festival usually in the last part of the Chegahiu i.e., October.

Mimkuut

Mimkuut is the harvest festival of the Kukis. Kukis of Nagaland celebrate this festival on the 17th Kuki month of Tolbol (January) every year. The celebration lasts one week. Besides Mimkuut, Kukis celebrate Chapphou Kuut and Chavang Kuut as well as other smaller festivals. It is believed that Mimkuut and other festivals came into being from the fact that, in order to appease Thilha (Demon) the people offered sacrifices and at the same time they also believed in the existence of a Supreme God whom they called “Chung Pathen” (Heavenly God). To get the blessing of such gods, the village medicine man (Thempu) would sacrifice fowls to propitiate the spirit of the Demon god by performing a series of rituals and prayer. Tradition handed down orally from generation to generation says that the Kukis originated from subterranean underworld. They came out from this underworld in search of better land.