The annual festival of Photangnzu was celebrated by the Longpfurr Yimkhuing community of Mimi village in Kiphire district on Thursday.

The Longpfurr people are the only community of the Yimkhuing tribe who celebrates Photangnzu festival.

According to tradition, Photangnzu is a six-day festival observed during the first week of October. However, in present times it is generally celebrated within two days.

Photangnzu signifies the time of paddy harvest, which begins after the celebrations.

The festival celebration on Thursday showcased a number of traditional rituals and customs which, although no longer practised by the Longpfurr people, show the ancient beliefs of the community.

One such custom displayed in the festival is the hanging of human skulls in the house of the clan’s leader.

The ancient ritual to bring rain for the lands was also displayed during Thursday’s Photangnzu celebration. In the olden days, during times of no rain, the Longpfurr would drag the skull of a mithun all the way to a sacred river, believing that the ritual would bring rain for the community.

Also featured was the traditional game of Longhak Kuku where two young people lock their legs onto the back of a third person who then crawls on the ground carrying them both.

The Photangnzu festival also consisted of a feast for the gathering which was hosted by R Achimpong, Village Council Chairman (VCC) of Mimi.