The festival of the Inpui Nagas

Roman Riamroi Inpui *

Introduction:-

Inpui Nagas has their own story of origin. The Genesis of Inpuis clearly stated that Inpuirwan emerged out of a cave called "Ramting Kabin" ( a place where stars can be seen in day light ), after breaking the door "Kapo Inkhaan" which blocked their way to go outside the wide open spaces with the help of Sentak (Mithun).

The majority of the Inpui Nagas were settling in Haochong Subdivision of Tamenglong district and Senapati district i.e., Waphong Inthan village, Makuilongdi village and Senapati Headquarter.

Many of the Inpui Nagas were also settling in Imphal Valley like Tamphagei, Yurembam, Changangei and Pantilong. Some of the Inpui Nagas were also settling in Nagaland like Sangtamtila Dimapur and different parts of the country. The Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Zeme, Rongmei and Liangmei are the good neighbors of Inpui Nagas.

There are seven clans in Inpui Nagas tribe. They are:-
1) Riamroi,
2) Bariam,
3) Khumba,
4) Inka,
5) Bariamtak,
6)Bariampaan
7) Balang.

Same clans were not allow to get marry and prohibited all kinds of love affairs.

The Inpui Nagas are cheerful and merry making people, the lovers of festivals. They observed several festivals throughout the year. The following are some of the popular festivals of the Inpui Nagas tribe:

1) Karing-Ngei:- karing-Ngei means "The Festival of Living." This festival is celebrated in the month of January every year and biggest festival of the Inpui Nagas. It is more or less a celebration honouring the ancestors, village champions who sacrificed their life in protecting the villagers against the enemies. This festival is particularly for menfolk. They make a figure of man which plantain and throw javelin which is known as "Tabaan khwanu" at it.

If anyone strikes the head, he is considered to have killed a man. If he strikes stomach, he is believed to have been blessed with plenty of food. It is also celebrate to showcase the Culture, Tradition and Strength of the Inpui Nagas.

2) Tataaknu:- It is celebrated in the month of December. It is a parting festival between the livings and the souls of the death realties during the year. Mornings are made over the departed souls by the relatives and villagers. This festival is the New Year festival for them as they begin new life after it. During this festival they offered food and other dishes for the dead one; a spirit because they believed that those spirits come to have the food.

3) Nabitnu:- Nabitnu means "piercing the ears." This festival falls in the month of March but with coming to the modern society and Christianity, this festival have done in the month of December during Christmas day. It is the celebration of boring the ears of babies. The ears of the children born after the last festival are Pierce. They give thanks and offering to the mother goddess and seek her blessing.

4) Ba-Ngeipui:- It is celebrated in the month of September every year after "Loumainu" (weeding) in the fields. Women and men were forming in group wise, they collect money to celebrate this festival. As they think that they overcome the obstacles and pains during weeding for cultivating their products.

5) Muiliangnu:- This festival is celebrated for assessing by measuring the agricultural products collected by each house of the village. It is celebrated in the first part of November and December. Most of these festivals revolve around agriculture. Agriculture, traditionally has not merely been a means of living but also a way of life.

The elders choose two families from their village who had harvested more than that of others family. That is for "Bapui" (First position) and "Baswan" (Second position). The public would gather in Bapui family and bless the family in the morning and evening in the Baswan family.

The both families would offer whatever they have and want to the elders, public and ask for blessing and wisdom from them.