Sekrenyi Festival 2021: Angamis celebrates 'Festival of Purification'

Sekrenyi festival is being celebrated by the major tribe of Nagaland, the Angamis. Read this article to know about this festival and the way of celebration.
Representational image

Representational image

Sekrenyi festival is the significant festival of the Angami tribes of Nagaland. The festival is usually held during the February month, especially by the northern and western angamis. on the other hand, the festival is held during December month by the southern angamis. The day is also known by the name of 'Phousanyi' i.e. the 'festival of Purification'. It takes place for a time period of seven to thirteen days and it is observed for the purpose of the welfare and prosperity of the villagers in the near future. It is also held to mark the commencement of a New Year; they have purification rituals to start afresh.

How the festival is celebrated?

Firstly the head priest is going to declare the upcoming of the festival and everyone would get busy in readying for the celebration. The women would start waiving beautiful handmade shawls for their partners which they are supposed to wear in the rituals of purification. Prior to four-five days of the festival is termed as 'genna' and on that very day, they would make rice beer.

Kizhie rituals are performed by the ladies on the first day; when they tie leaf cups with zumhou, prepared from soaked rice into it and hang them on the central post of the house and paddy barns in order to worship the Almighty to bless their family with welfare and prosperity. the next day they crush the soaked rice in water and add yeast into it to prepare Zutho (rice beer).

For the purification rituals the men of the house especially the young unmarried men clean the wells of the house and on the next morning, they take bath there and also wash their weapons and garment. It's just that they purify everything on that day. they also take some water for their family. When they return, the men slaughter a chicken.

They cook the chicken in a separate oven. the females don't have the meal. People make local rice beer which they offer to the spirit of the well and pray that the well never dries up and provide pure water to the village.

they gather wild fruits and flowers in order to adorn their house beautifully to worship their ancestors.

Thekra hie is the very fascinating part of the celebration when the people gathered together and enjoy singing traditional folk songs the entire day. they are cordially served with meats and rice beer.

On the fourth day and fifth day, they gather wood pieces, stones, corks etc from the jungle and prepare bracelets, necklaces, and various other ornaments to gift to their loved ones.

The sixth and seventh days are the holidays when people enjoy privately with their family at home.

On the eighth day, the bridge pulling or gate pulling ceremony is performed which is the prime attraction of the festival as well as co-villagers pay visits and celebrate all together.

On the final day, meats and all kinds of food items are being cooked and distribute among the villagers.

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