The second edition of the 11-day Cosmos (Nraipa) cum Lekie Cai Festival officially commenced today at Peletkie village in the Peren district. Organised by the Lekie Mtei Nko (LMN), which serves as the apex body of the three sister villages of Peletkie, Deukwaram, and Lekieram, the cultural and economic showcase is scheduled to run from October 10 to 20, 2026. The inaugural programme was graced by the Deputy Commissioner of Peren, Hiazu Meru, who attended as the special guest on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland for Planning & Transformation and National Highways. The event proceedings were compered by Ngautube R. Zeliang and Idosile Miliang, with an invocation prayer offered by Lekie Baptist Church pastor, Peusibe Kenn. Organising committee chairman Dilam Haisobe delivered the keynote address, followed by a traditional salt song presented by Suihakpe Miliang and a cosmos song performed by Indule and Ramyiheing Chamlak. The formal session concluded with remarks from Lekie Mtei Nko general secretary Iliegongbe Miliang and a benediction by Lekie Mtei Mission Board chairman Namhingheing Disong.
Speaking at the inaugural venue, Deputy Commissioner Hiazu Meru lauded the organising committee for its innovative presentation of indigenous heritage, specifically highlighting the live demonstration of local traditional salt preparation. This display successfully brought the processing technique directly to visitors who might otherwise be unable to trek to the remote extraction sites located far outside the village limits. He urged the younger generation to protect and continue practicing the quality traditions passed down by their elders, emphasizing that the village has gained widespread popularity since last year by leveraging social media platforms to advertise its unique cosmos plantations. Meru commended the villagers for utilizing digital outreach to effectively boost the local micro-economy. Highlighting Lekie Cai as a highly prized, unique product used extensively within the Peren district and neighboring regions, Meru advised the community to draft structured plans to modernize and scale up the salt-making process. He assured the village of administrative support and strongly encouraged them to pursue a geo-tag for their gifted local product to optimize its market potential. Turning his focus toward regional employment, the special guest urged the youth to avoid laziness, embrace entrepreneurship, and value hard work and the dignity of labor, noting that state government sector roles have reached a point of saturation.
The festival grounds are equipped to host visitors throughout the 11-day run, offering an array of local food stalls, tea stalls, organic vegetable markets, and dedicated campsites for overnight travelers. Commuters planning to visit the festival from Dimapur can expect a travel time of two and a half hours when driving from 7th Mile via the Pimla-Jalukie road. For visitors traveling from Kohima, the journey takes between two and a half to three hours when navigating via the Khonoma-Heunambe village route along the Hausum Khel Resort-Benreu road. The festival will continue its daily exhibitions and cultural showcases until its conclusion on October 20.
