“Yemshe” – premier festival of Pochury Naga tribe was celebrated in Dimapur and Meluri on Thursday. In Dimapur, Yemshe Festival was organized by Western Pochury Hoho Nagaland (WPHN) at NAPO hall, Walford. The programme was attended by the Pochury tribe in their colourful traditional attires which also highlighted various cultural presentations.
At the celebration, Western Pochury Women Hoho Nagaland president, Maria shared the significance of the festival, mentioning that the festival was observed to welcome good and bountiful harvest of the year of various crops. She also elaborated on the sequence of the events following a weeklong festival. On the significance of the “Yemshe” festival, she said that it was to preserve and safeguard the unique identity of the Pochury Naga tribe, preparation and welcoming of the new harvest, to promote cleanliness and sanitation, to forge friendship and unity and preparation for collection of housing materials.
Exhorting the gathering, GPRN NSCN-IM collective leadership, Zarise Nyuthe extended greetings to the people of Pochury. He mentioned that Pochury is a recognized tribe of the Nagas which comprises of five areas under the Pochury community.
He said that such celebration of festivals brings together the community in unity and oneness. He also spoke on the importance of preserving the community language and traditional attires.
He further encouraged the organizing committee to continue to organize such events to showcase the rich culture and diversity, that identifies one’s community.
During the programme, Lanyira zah (folk song) was presented by Chumoukedima, folk tune by Toulazouma and ethnic show was presented by Western Pochury Students’ Union Nagaland.
The programme was followed by “Yemshe feast”.
Yemshe celebration at Meluri promotes unity and tradition
The two-day Yemshe Festival celebration at Meluri headquarters concluded with a vibrant display of cultural heritage, traditions, and merrymaking on Thursday.
According to a DIPR report, advisor N&RE and NSDMA Nagaland, Z. Nyusietho Nyuthe, who was the chief host, emphasized that this festive occasion not only showcased the rich cultural heritage but, more importantly, brought all sections of the community together in a spirit of peace and harmony, strengthening the sense of unity in society.
The second day of the celebration featured a variety of cultural activities representing five areas of Pochury, including MAPO, ARPO, KAPO, PPO, and MAPO. Folk dances, traditional songs, and traditional games captivated the audience, with events like tug of war and greased pole climbing generating cheers and applauses.
The event was presided over by the general secretary of Pochury HoHo, heartwarming solo performance was presented by seven-year-old Adusa, invocation by assistant Priest of Meluri Parish, Fr. Marius Zachamo Patton, and benediction by pastor of BCMT, Rev. Tivisie Pojar. The grand finale of the day was “Yemshe feast”, which brought everyone together in a festive spirit.