Indigenous communities like the Ao Nagas are generally agrarian societies whose lives are intrinsically dependent on land and agriculture. As such, their culture predominantly revolves around agriculture. A cursory look at the Ao Naga culture will amply prove this right. Speaking about culture, it can be safely deduced that a culture is incomplete without festivals.
Now, when we talk about festivals in our context, there are two that first strike the mind – Moatsü and Tsüngremmung. Both of these two festivals are associated with agriculture. Customs, laws, dress, architectural style, social standards, religious beliefs, and traditions are all examples of cultural elements. And all of these cultural elements and more are represented by the festivals.
As such, celebrating a festival is more than just a usual activity associated with agriculture. As times change, the manner in which the festivals are celebrated are bound to change. However, the core essence of celebrating the festivals remains the same. And it ought to. As Tsüngremmung festival is here, let this be an opportune time for all to learn about the core essence of the festival.
Meanwhile, it is also equally important to get the basics right. For instance, there is confusion about the spelling of the word ‘Tsüngremmung’ which is quite infuriating. A lot of people are also ignorant of the etymology of the name of the festival. Further, a lot of literature on the festival describe Tsüngremmung as a post-harvest festival which is not the case. The lack of authoritative literature on the festival is deeply felt. In this age of the internet, it is embarrassing to find wrongly spelled names of the festival doing the rounds.
Further, while it is encouraging to see various groups and organizations organizing different events to celebrate the festival, it must be considered equally important to ‘live’ the festival. Tsüngremmung should be a lived experience, something much more than simply attending an organized event. Gifting a friend or greeting a stranger on account of the festival, for instance, magnifies the significance of the event.
The apex Ao Senden conveying Tsüngremmung greetings through the media, for example, is a laudable initiative. It may seem small but it actually is a big motivator. A village union in Mokokchung town distributing a simple Tsüngremmung greeting card to all its members is equally significant as another village organizing a grand festive event.
Innovative ideas must be explored and encouraged to propagate the significance of ethnic festivals like Tsüngremmung. However, while doing so, one should not dilute or tweak the real essence of the festival. The sanctity of the festival should be respected and social amity should not be disturbed by one’s celebration of the festival. Community bonding and not discord is the essence of all festivals.