Pudunamei village celebrates "Saleni"
Source: The Sangai Express
Senapati, July 31 2022:
Pudunamei village under Senapati district celebrated "Saleni", a post transplantation festival with Mao Traditional Indigenous War Game today.
It was attended by Mao AC MLA Losii Dikho and Karong AC MLA J Kumo Sha as presidium members.
Speaking on the occasion, Thisho Kriina, Ex-ADC member stated that Pudunamei village is 109 km away from the State capital and three & half km from NH, Mao Gate.
"Lerii Kaphi", known for local Indigenous war games, was played during the Saleni festival normally in the month of July.
It is a well-known game played by one of the renowned Mao Naga villages at Pudunamei village under Senapati district.
The war game is reportedly played on the second day of Saleni festival by dividing the team into 2 groups as the upper village society and southern progressive society depicting the warring villages of the past.
The distance between the 2 places is about 560 feet approximately.
The game lasts for 4 days and is played age-wise in descending order.
The game lasts for about half an hour or more and not less than 30-40 participants participate from each side.
The event of the day culminates into grand celebration for both the sides and together, shoulder to shoulder, they carry the Lerii and walk around the village making war cries from Movu Fiihe to Salezhu and finally to Korobome where everyone then departs.
J Kumo Sha expressed happiness to be part of the festival and urged all to strengthen & give valuable advice to fulfil the wishes of the people.
Losii Dikho informed that the Chief Minister could not come to inaugurate the festival due to weather conditions.
He expressed his gratitude to the CM for his concern on development of the hill district as a people's CM by visiting every nook and corner of the state.
Conveying the message from N Biren Singh, the MLA stated that the CM acknowledged the support by the Mao community in particular.
Losii Dikho stated that Pudunamei village is one of the oldest Mao villages and the last border village to Nagaland adding the chief of Pudunamei village is the chief of Mao.
Talking about the game, the MLA lauded the villagers for their skill in playing the indigenous war game.
Different district CSOs, village chiefs, village authority members, student bodies.
District Olympic Association, District Red Cross and others attended the programme.