As part of the ongoing 23rd Hornbill Festival 2022, a traditional stone pulling ceremony was held on Tuesday in Mezoma village to commemorate 142 years of the Anglo-Naga peace treaty made on 27 March 1880 in Mezoma village.

The ceremony was organised by the Mezomia Mechü Kehou.

Thousands of men from the Angami, Chakhesang and Rengma tribes took part in the stone pulling ceremony on Tuesday.

The ceremony is practised by the Angami tribe where a huge stone is pulled to a certain location and erected as a monolith to commemorate any jubilant occasion.

Neivikuolie Khatsü, convenor of the organising committee, informed that on 27 March 1880, the British and Nagas entered into a Vitho (Peace Treaty), an agreement for peace and cessation of hostilities, in Mezoma village.

While the British claim to have destroyed and subjugated the Nagas through their superior firearms, the Nagas resolutely hold that a Vitho made with the British brought an end to their hostilities, stated Khatsü.

He said, as per oral testimonies, a solemn ceremony was held in Mezoma village in which two men from Mezoma and Khonoma held the head of a cat while a British representative held the lower end. The cat was then sliced from the neck as an oath of peace that bounds the parties in the severest terms and ended the existing state of war between the British and the Angami Nagas.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, attending the ceremony as the chief guest, said it was a significant day for the Naga people, especially the people of Mezoma, to participate in the ceremony, and added that the practice not only preserves the traditions and culture of the forefathers but also keeps the traditions and roots alive among the young generations. Maintaining that the stone pulling highlights the peace treaty made between the Nagas and the British and keeps the 142-year peace treaty alive, Rio said the ceremony is a way of reviving the traditions, roots and culture of the people.

He also said the last battle field took place in Khonoma area and noted that Mezoma village is itself equally a historical place. Today we have made peace treaty with the British and therefore Naga people, though of different tribes, even if there is misunderstanding among ourselves, we all need to make peace with each other and become a mighty tribe, the Chief Minister said.

Rio further hoped that the peace treaty of 142 years would flourish amongst all Naga tribes and that peace would be among the people. He also hoped that the Naga people would move forward together and flourish as well as preserve the customs, traditions and practices.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the booklet of the Anglo-Naga Vitho Peace Treaty. Marking the friendship with Mezoma village, menfolk from the villages of Tesophenyu, Tuophema, Tseminyu and Kikruma also joined in the stone pulling ceremony.