In a warm homage to their forefathers and a commitment to preserving the age-old tradition of “Mera Nüja,” loosely translated as a form of the ‘Feast of Merit’, Mr and Mrs Imlikokba Longkumer, GB, hosted a grand celebration of “Aluro Benjong” on October 9 at their field. This event brought together the villagers of Longsa in a beautiful display of unity, embodying the essence of sharing and generosity that the celebration represents. During the feast, villagers gathered to reap the rice grains sown in the paddy fields, while the hosts provided a sumptuous meal for the entire community.
The event drew approximately 670 attendees, including at least one member from each family in the village and participants from nearby towns like Mokokchung. This marked the first feast of such grandeur since the installation of the new Mejensanger Putu in 2020.
The Longkumer family’s fields, spanning about 7 hectares and cultivated by five families, yielded approximately 800 tins of grain—a traditional Naga measurement. Imlikokba noted that the total capacity of the field’s produce is around 900 tins.
Sademkala, Imlikokba’s wife, highlighted that the festival is not only about preserving tradition but also a sacred occasion. She outlined the various procedures involved in hosting the feast, which starts with a preliminary gathering for family members, kins, clans, and neighbors. This is followed by the host family sharing “Shijeb” (meat cut into traditional Naga-standard sizes) with all families in the village, a process known as “Aontem.”
“Any family wishing to host Mera Nüja must first host ‘Aontem’,” the couple stated, noting they completed this process last year (2023). Sademkala also highlighted the importance of sanctifying one’s lifestyle to host the feast.
“We must ensure that our lifestyle is sanctified. For instance, we do not eat or drink during funerals; we have to speak and eat carefully, keeping ourselves clean spiritually, morally, and physically,” she explained.
Imtituba, Sademkala’s brother, added that all attendees must be informed at least three days in advance to prepare spiritually.
“Our forefathers observed this feast with complete holiness and purity before Christianity and invoked God’s blessings. Even after the introduction of Christianity, we continue to invoke God’s blessings through this feast,” he explained.
According to him, the feast blesses participants with prolonged life, grants success to their children, and most importantly, recognizes individuals within the village.
“It’s like a badge of honor, similar to what one might receive during military service, because this type of feast cannot be hosted by just anybody. It is not merely about being rich or wealthy; only a few people can host such events,” he added.
For the feast alone, it was reported that 13 pigs and one cow were slaughtered, not including preparations made during the ‘Aontem’ observation.
As part of the feast, each family received one ‘sliced’ meat called “Shiwa,” while five pieces of meat pierced on a stick, known as “Shito,” were given to each and every one present. It is believed that if the attendees do not take it to home, they would not receive the blessings. During the plate serving of the feast, each person received two pieces of meat and at least one portion of innards. It was said that this was part of the tradition.
Imtituba noted that the festival significantly promotes agriculture and hard work which the Naga forefathers strictly adhered to. He emphasized that it plays a vital role in preserving culture, particularly the culture of sharing.
“It also brings unity to the village, as it feels like a gathering. It also instills a competitive spirit among different age groups, as tasks are distributed based on age, and they must ensure they complete their work,” he explained.
The festival reflects the host’s willingness to share their resources with the village, strengthening community spirit.
“The villagers cherish, praise, and honor the host because of this grand festival, hence the name ‘Mera Nüja,'” Imtituba added. In Ao Naga, the word Mera translates to “grand.”
Among the attendees, youths shared insights into the lessons they learned from the feast.
According to an article by Ketholeno Neihu published in Morung Express, the Feast of Merit formed a central feature of traditional Naga practices, conferring social status to an individual. The Feast of Merit was a step-by-step process or series of feasts that took years, or almost a lifetime, to complete; each feast was more prestigious than the last.
Although the series of feasts differed from community to community, most Naga tribes cherished the Feast of Merit. The significance of the Feast of Merit was that it brought honor to the donor during their lifetime and after their death.
“The philosophy behind the performance of the Feast of Merit is that the performer is honored while alive and remembered after death. The deeper philosophy, however, is the sense of generosity and warm-heartedness towards the poor people who are fed during the occasion,” wrote the late Shimray, a Naga scholar, in his research thesis titled Origin and Culture of the Nagas.
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