Nagaland Ahuna Festival reaffirms Sümi-Angami brotherhood

The Ahuna Festival 2025, the premier post-harvest celebration of the Sümi community, was held on November 13–14 at Pughoboto town under the theme “Bound by History, Bridging Generations.”
The event, jointly organised by Sümi Hoho and hosted by Sümi Aphyumeyi Frontal Organisations, drew thousands of participants from across Sümi-inhabited areas and over a thousand from Angami community, reinforcing a renewed spirit of unity between the two tribes.
The celebration was graced by PWD (R&B) minister, G. Kaito Aye, as the ‘Ahuna Papu’, with Angami Public Organisation (APO) president, Thejao Vihienuo, as special invitee. The two-day event began with a cultural procession to Mishili Yepaqa ground, showcasing rich Sümi traditions.
A major highlight the celebration was the unveiling of the ‘Angami–Sümi Relationship Stone’ at Mishili Yepaqa, symbolising centuries-old ties and a collective commitment to sustain inter-tribal harmony.
The stone was unveiled by Angami Public Organisation (APO) president, Thejao Vihienuo, and Sümi Hoho president, Dr. Vihuto Asumi.
Delivering the welcome and presidential address, Sümi Hoho president, Dr. Vihuto Asumi, described Ahuna as the Sümi celebration of harvest, gratitude and unity. He said the festival reminded the community that thanksgiving strengthens unity and reflects the values of humility, hope and togetherness that bind generations of the Sümi people.
Referring to Pughoboto as the ancestral cradle of the Sümi, Dr. Asumi stated that celebrating Ahuna at its historical birthplace reaffirmed the community’s connection to its roots and the ideals of faith, love and respect that have guided the Sümi through generations.
Dr. Asumi emphasised the renewed relationship between Angami and Sümi communities, recalling the joint meeting held on January 24, 2025 at APO Hall, Kohima.
He said the Angami and Sümi have historically lived as neighbours, partners and friends, sharing boundaries and mutual respect, and noted that several Sümi by blood have become Angami by choice, reflecting deep trust and kinship.
Dr. Asumi described the unveiling of the relationship stone as a landmark moment. He said the monument represented peace, unity and a commitment to carrying forward the legacy of friendship, adding that the relationship is a blessing not only to Angamis and Sümis but to the entire Naga family.
He expressed confidence that the strengthened Sümi-Angami bond would inspire greater harmony among Naga tribes, stating that cooperation and understanding are essential for building a peaceful and progressive society.
APO president, Thejao Vihienuo, underscored the deep-rooted friendship between the Sümi and Angami communities. Referring to the unveiling of the Angami-Sümi Relationship Stone, he said the monument reflected centuries-old ties and served as a reminder to strengthen this bond for generations. He noted that the tribes’ ancestors shared migration paths, settlements and mutual respect, forming a relationship rooted in friendship and confidence passed down as a legacy.
Vihienuo acknowledged that the relationship has experienced periods of mistrust in the past, arising when self-interest overshadowed collective wellbeing. Without concern for one another, he said, respect diminishes and trust erodes. He added that “by God’s grace,” both tribes are now positioned to renew this legacy and work towards progress for the Naga people as a whole.
As the Sümi and Angami communities jointly celebrated Ahuna, Vihienuo urged both tribes to take the message of unity and cooperation to other Naga tribes. He called on all Sümi and Angami citizens to demonstrate respect and concern for each other and extend the same spirit to every Naga community.
Addressing the gathering, minister for Roads & Bridges, G. Kaito Aye, called upon the Sümi community to celebrate Ahuna with purpose and responsibility. He urged the people to go beyond ritual celebration and strive for excellence in agricultural production, praising the Pughoboto community for its dedication to cultivation and use of fertile land.
Aye emphasised the importance of sustaining and strengthening the longstanding relationship between the Sümi and Angami communities and appealed to both groups to continue working together. He suggested that the spirit of the Ahuna celebration should be shared with all Naga tribes, promoting gratitude, unity and communal harmony.
Dr. Sukhato Sema, MLA of 13 AC Pughoboto, highlighted Nagaland’s natural resources and the potential of its youthful population. He said Nagaland is blessed with fertile land and a generation full of energy and creativity. However, he stressed the need for discipline, dedication and direction. He urged youth to use modern opportunities responsibly and for the greater good, encouraging them to build rather than blame and unite rather than divide.
He added that the festival must continue to uphold its role as the collective voice of the people and expressed hope that this year’s celebration would inspire the younger generation to lead with wisdom, compassion and courage.
Delivering a brief address, Akükau Hetoho S. Zhimomi, president Sümi Kükami Hoho, reaffirmed that the Sümi people remain one community despite living across different sub-divisions. He urged the elders of the Sümi Aphuyemi community to actively share their knowledge and guide the younger generations. He called on all Sümi communities to uphold unity, stating that fragmentation can never bring blessings or progress.
Earlier, the stone-unveiling prayer was pronounced by Rev. Dr. Kiyeto G. Sema, senior pastor, Sümi Aphyumeyi Baptist Church, after which the relationship stone was unveiled by APO president, Thejao Vihienuo. The Ahuna blessing prayer was offered by Rev. Vibo Sumi, executive secretary, NCRC Sümi. The formal session began with a welcome song by the Mishilimi womenfolk, a presentation on the significance of Ahuna by advocate Joshua Sheqhi, presentations from Kohima Village, Müghami Melos and Nagagenous, and Asaqhi by A. Asapu Sema. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Akükau Qhutovi Tenna, president Sümi Aphyumeyi Kükami Hoho.