Tokhü Emong
tokhü emong harvest festival celebrated lotha naga indian state nagaland nine day fall festival celebrates end harvest season lotha naga language tokhü mean feast eating food drinking emong mean halt appointed time tokhü emong celebrated first week november every year last nine day festival associated harvesting crop also accompanied folk dance singing folk song tokhü emong adherent praise god blessing tokhü emong also celebration brotherhood forgiveness oneness celebrated sharing food gift folklore narration community feast festival entire village take part celebration every household food drink prepared feast friend family neighbor invited others house continues day main feature feast community song dance feast fun frolic everyone attire beautiful traditional dress costume according social status air gaiety light heartedness everywhere gift food drink exchanged festival among friend number cooked meat given denotes depth friendship tie example one man offer piece meat friend show treasure friendship reciprocated also offered piece meat mean friendship valued side case disaster misfortune strike either one stand matter thus friendship loyalty fidelity pledged case mere acquaintance platonic one piece meat exchanged priest give signal start festival accompanied aide yinga along basket go round village collecting un husked rice every home offering made priest take handful shower prayer put contribution basket belief generous contribution yield one would get harvest one refuse contribute would lead pauper life none would dare refuse contribution fear portion collection used buy pig rest used making ricebeer pig killed cut distributed contributor ritual considered contributing factor general prosperity commencement festival stranger happens village get two option leave village past beyond village gate sunset stay village festival however enjoys warm hospitality villager festival also provide occasion offer prayer departed soul family lost member year performs hisher last rite people remain village till last rite performed young boy girl engaged year happily married tokhü also time renovating village gate cleaning well repairing house tokhü emong also festival thanks giving sharing reconciliation beautiful aspect festival past rancour forgiven new tie formed bond closer intimacy formed wild cry joyecho green hill narrow valley one feel stone given tongue say ‘oh farmer tender field love care’ village priest proclaims opening tokhü emong travel doorto door village basket collect edible purpose yinga supporter also accompanied collection offering limha potsow ha oyak potsow earthgod skygod priest take small quantity contribution put basket offering prayer customary fellow villager contribute liberally believed contribution facilitated crop cultivation according legend anyone refuse contribution brings bad curse upon end beggar fraction gathering used buy pig rest kept making rice beer later help bamboo spear perforation made pig heart abdomen sliced open interpret prophecy priest read destiny village entrails pig divided small portion distributed amongst every household stranger arrives village festival start either leave stay guest throughout festival enjoying hospitality village well village cleaned house repaired well may slight difference ritual performance celebrating activity village among lothas village priest customary law within village therefore act perform accordingly however identity tokhü emong significance subject aim people wear conventional dress ceremony prayer offered spirit people died previous year family lost member expected stay village last ritual performed villager expected put aside bitterness settle problem others people express gratitude strive create new tie friendship meal served everyone followed folk dance folk song exchange gift festival marriage arranged young couple engaged year tokhü emong annual festival begin november continues nine day historically festival fixed start date lotha naga elder settled fixed date order strengthen unity among community recently nagaland government set date nagaland government calendar holiday lothas november since nagaland forest department collaboration others organises tokhü emong bird count aimed promoting state biodiversity encourage community conservation effort list traditional naga festival archived december wayback machine