Metumnyo festival was celebrated on 7th August 2021 with Chairman, Nagaland Bio Resource, L.Thronghokiu as the special guest at Naga heritage village Kisama, Kohima.
L Thronghokiu said that the Metumnyo festival is celebrated in honour of newborn babies and the soul of a person who would pass away in the present year. Metùmnyo festival was celebrated with deep sense of respect and honor but today it is rarely found, and so he urgedall to work together to bring back the lost glory. He encouraged the gathering to work together to bring harmony and peace among within the community
Mission Director, NBRM Dr. Kroulalie who also spoke on the occasion stated that one must preserve their cultural identity and with the coming of western lifestyle influence, people have detached themselves from their culture. He encouraged the Yimchunger community to inculcate the tradition and culture passed down by the forefathers for the future generation to keep the unique culture alive.
Delivering the significance of Metumnyo festival, Executive Chairman YUK, Hanji said that it is encouraging when festivals are celebrated keeping in mind their inherent meaning and significance. He stated that the festival was celebrated from the 1st of August to the 8th of August, however it has been reduced to three days from 6th to 8th August, with 8th August as the prime occasion.
He said that the word Metumnyo encompasses the three syllables, which are “Me” meaning “spirit or Soul”, “Tüm” meaning “wrap” and “Nyo” meaning “feast”. Stating that the festival literally conveys an occasion of a ‘Soul wrapping feast”, the whole meaning of the festival revolves around life, hope, friendship and peace and it encircles around the spiritual feast and also a religious communion between the living and the dead, he added.
The function was chaired by vice president YUK, Akumba, while vote of thanks was delivered by General Secretary YUK, T. Kiusangthong. The festival was organised by Yimchunger Union Kohima following Covid-19 SOPs.
(Akamla, IA Kohima)
