Yimkhiung community celebrated Metümnyo festival on August 7 with Chairman L Thronghokiu Nagaland bio resource as special guest at Naga heritage village Kisama, Kohima.
According to a DIPR report, L Thronghokiu said that the Metümnyo festival was celebrated in honour of newborn babies and the soul of a person who would pass away in the present year.
Initially Metümnyo festival was celebrated with deep sense of respect and honor but sadly today it is rarely found, he said.
In this regard, he encouraged the community members to work together “to bring back the lost glory of Yimchunger”.
NBRM mission director Dr. Kroulalie who also spoke on the occasion stated that they should preserve their cultural identity as the western lifestyle influence was detaching people from their culture.
He encouraged the Yimkhiung community to inculcate the tradition and culture passed down by the forefathers for the future generation to keep the unique culture alive.
Delivering a significance of Metümnyo, executive chairman YUK Hanji said that it was meaningful “when we celebrate any festival by keeping in mind their inherent meanings and significances”.
The festival was celebrated from the August 1-8, however, in modern times it has been reduced to three days (August 6-8) with 8 as the prime occasion.
The word Metümnyo encompasses the three syllables which are “Me” meaning “spirit or Soul”, “Tüm” meaning “wrap” and “Nyo” meaning “feast”.
The festival literally conveys an occasion of a “Soul wrapping feast” and revolves around life, hope, friendship and peace. It also encircles around the spiritual feast and religious communion between the living and the dead.
Earlier, the function was chaired by YUK vice president Akumba, vote of thanks was delivered by YUK general secretary T. Kiusangthong, invocation was said by YBBK pastor Wongtokiu and benediction by associate pastor (women) YBBK, C. Rachel.
The festival was organised by Yimchunger Union Kohima (YUK).