Khiamniungan’s residing in Kohima celebrated ‘Tsokum’ festival with traditional fervour here at NSF Solidarity Park, Kohima. The celebration was organised by Khiamniungan Union Kohima (KUK).

T Musho Lam, Advisor KUK, speaking on the significance of the festival said Tsokum festival is the most significant festival amongst the festivals celebrated by the Khiamniungans.

The festival is eight-day long series of events that begins on the sixth day after the full moon of the month of September.

Lam further explained that the festival falls during the onset of autumn season and signifies the starting of harvesting crops. In olden days the festival included sacrificial rites for good harvest and wellbeing. Harvesting of crops would start only after the rituals had been performed.

“Generally, in modern era it is a festival that signifies victory of good over evil. The wealthy man of the villages intending to perform the Feast of Merit starts their preparation right from the beginning of the year; sacrificial animals are cared and nourished, and above all self-wellbeing is prioritized till the festival season.”

Advisor Technical Education & Elections, Medo Yhokha, speaking at the celebration as special guest, extended Tsokum greetings to the Khiamniungan community and lauded their simplicity, genuineness and originality. He said that he hopes and believes that the time has come for the Khiamniungan people to lead the Nagas.

Yhokha stressed on the need for all the Nagas to come together and stand united. He said 60 elected members have come together under one umbrella to facilitate the ongoing peace process and that all were trying their best carrying the voice and aspirations of the people.

“We are not obstructing…we are adopting resolution after resolution and with every resolution adopted in the assembly the resolution is getter stronger.

Yhokha appealed to the people not to be carried away by rumours and hearsay but to be patient and give some time and space.