Kohima: Sekrenyi, also known as Phousanyi, stands as the premier celebration of the Angami Naga tribe. Deeply rooted in tradition, the festival’s name translates to the purification and sanctification of one’s body and soul.
February 25, has been marked by the tribe as a unified date for collective celebration. This year, the tribe observed a two-day celebration at Kisama where the annual Hornbill Festival is held.
Ancient rituals and traditions
According to an elder, Meguo-o Mechülho, Sekrenyi involved the culling of a cockerel for men and a pullet for women, a sacrificial process known as “Geizhie.”
On February 26, 2025, he narrated that traditionally, the festival preparations commence on February 17, when a village elder priest proclaims the schedule. By February 19, local rice beer is left to strain, and in the following days, villagers gather firewood and vegetables and clean their surroundings. The menfolk also clear local water sources like streams and ponds, ensuring fresh water is available for the festival’s sacred rituals.
On February 25, a ritual called “Kizhie” takes place, during which prayers are offered for the abundance of food grains, material prosperity, and well-being. The evening features a symbolic cleansing ceremony where youths chant while fetching water from a sacred source, which is then poured towards the north to represent the washing away of impurities. The menfolk symbolically reserve the pond or stream by placing two sharpened bamboo sticks across it and return home chanting, an act called “Dzüva.”
That night, village elders invite a person of great distinction—a warrior, a skilled hunter, or someone who has achieved significant feats—to initiate the “Dzüva” process, formally sanctifying the festival the following morning.
On February 26, at dawn, men participating in the rituals proceed to the water source, guided by fire torches, to perform “Dzüseva.” The designated individual ceremonially collects water and pronounces a blessing. He then flaps his shawl as a symbolic gesture to drive away misfortunes.
Returning home with the water, the men commence the ritualistic culling of their cockerels. The placement of the rooster’s claws indicates whether the coming year will be prosperous or challenging.
A separate invocation, known as “Mhopieva,” follows, in which individuals seek vitality, abundance, and success in hunting and warfare. That night, men sleep on bamboo mats on their front porches.
Leftover food, rice, and rice beer from the ceremonies are buried as they cannot be consumed beyond this point. On the evening of February 27, the festival concludes with a closing ritual called “Pruo.”
Sekrenyi spans a total of 12 days, encompassing not only the prescribed rituals but also a range of cultural festivities. Among them are the pulling of traditional gates, renewal of friendships among villages, and feasts of merit hosted by prominent individuals. One particularly notable event, “Thekracü,” is a full day dedicated to singing traditional songs, preserving oral history and artistic expressions while strengthening the cultural fabric of Angami society.
A cultural celebration
With the advent of Christianity, many of these practices and rituals are rarely practised. Advisor Kropol Vitsu, this year’s host of the Sekrenyi festival, emphasised the importance of safeguarding traditional practices associated with the tribe.
Speaking on the first day of the event on Tuesday, Vitsu emphasised the need to safeguard the customs and traditions. Stressing the importance of upholding traditional values with dignity, he asserted that preserving Naga culture and passing it on to future generations must remain a priority.
On Wednesday, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio graced the celebrations as the chief host. He acknowledged the festival as a time-honoured tradition of the Angami Nagas, celebrating renewal and unity.
Thousands of Angami Nagas from the four ranges-Southern, Northern, Western and Chakhroma, clad in traditional attire, attended the two-day event. From traditional folk songs and dances to indigenous games and food, the festival exhibited the cultural practices and traditions of the Angami Nagas.
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