MEDIIMNEO  & TSUNGKAMNIU - YIMCHUNGRU TRIBE

MEDIIMNEO 

TheYimchungrüs celebrate Metumniu Festival from4th to 8th of August every yearafter the harvest of millet. This festival is connected with the prayers forthe souls of the departed ones. It is a sentimental ceremony for those dearones who left for their heavenly abode during the year. An elder known as"KHEAMPURU", after due prayers, inaugurates the festival. Thefestival is spread over five days and has separate names for the day’s viz.,SHITO, ZHIHTO, ZUMTO, KHEHRESUK and SHERESUK.

Onthe first day, the village is cleaned by community efforts, the damaged roadsand homes by heavy rains are repaired. On the second day, the path leading tothe field is put in right shape; landslides which are very common during heavyrains are cleaned. Unwieldy growth sare also cut. On the third day,inter-village roads are taken up. On the fourth day, water points and springsare cleaned giving a new look to the village and its surrounding. The villagersenjoy their millet. Friends are invited, gifts are exchanged. They dance intheir finest and go round the village to charm young and old.

Asthe festival has a strong agricultural base, the agricultural implements aresharpened and worshipped the three important things such as Spade, Dao and Hoe.

During Metumniu festival, the young boys and girls get engaged and thosealready betrothed exchange presents for new born babies. Special prayers areheld and offerings are made. If the child happens to be male, the parents offersix pieces of meat to the Priest and if the child happens to be female, parentsoffer five pieces of meat. This signifies

TSUNGKAMNIU

The Tsungkamniu, another important festival of the Yimchungü us falls in the month of January, from 14th to 16th every year. This festival is observed to signify the year long life and harvest achieved during the yearlong hard works in the field.

During this festival theyoung men and women of the village gather together and go round dancing toevery house of the village in merriment. In turn every household provides meat,wine and rice cooked and kept ready for them. This procession would go roundthe entire village and complete within stipulated time. The first day of themorning is spent for cleaning the village and thereafter eating, drinking anddancing starts