Lui-Ngai-Ni set to be celebrated on February 15 at Katomei, Senapati
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, February 09 2025: Lui-Ngai-Ni, Naga's Seed Sowing Festival is set to celebrate on February 15, 2025 at Katomei, Senapati under the theme, "Celebrating Naga's Cultural Fusion" .

The event will be organised by the State Level Organizing Committee under the aegis of the United Naga Council and will be hosted by the Naga People's Organization.

Lui Ngai Ni is a traditional seed sowing festival celebrated by the Naga people, an indigenous tribe inhabiting the eastern Indian states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as parts of Myanmar.

Lui Ngai Ni marks the beginning of the new sowing season, where farmers prepare their fields for planting seeds.

The festival is a time for expressing gratitude for the previous harvest and seeking blessings for a bountiful new season, cleansing and rejuvenating the community, farms, and forests and strengthening social bonds among the Naga people, promoting harmony and cooperation.

Farmers also perform Rituals and Practices while sowing new seeds while they ceremoniously sow seeds in their fields, accompanied by traditional songs and dances.

Traditional dishes, such as rice, meat and vegetables are offered to the Gods and ancestors.

Elders perform rituals to cleanse the community, farms and forests of evil spirits and negative energies.

Traditional dances, music, and storytelling are showcased, highlighting the Naga's culture and heritage.

Lui Ngai Ni is a vibrant celebration that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Naga people, while promoting harmony with nature and community development.

The event will be graced by Awangbow Newmai, Minister, Water Resources, Relief & Disaster Management, Manipur, MLA Ram Muivah and MLA Janghemlung on the inaugural, while MLA J.Kumo Sha will be present as an honoured celebrant at the introductory event (Feb.

14).The valedictory event will be graced by MLA Leishiyo and MLA SS Olish as honoured celebrants while MLA L Dikho will be the Lui-Ngai-Ni host.

Former Presidents & office bearers of the UNC, Committee members for Alternative Arrangement and Ex-Naga Parliamentarians & Legislators will be present as special invitees.

Celebration flag will be hoisted by Ng Lorho, President, United Naga Council at the introductory function.

After having performed traditional rites and rituals, blessing and distribution of seeds will be taken up by K Namba, Chief of Maram tribe on the inaugural day.

Different traditional shows are in line during the program.

Traditional attire parade will continue in the valedictory function followed by cultural fusion nite in the later part of the program.

More than 2,000 delegates are expected to arrive for the festival from different comers of the state according to a source received from the organising committee.

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