Senapati, February 9: Lui-Ngai-Ni, the Naga Seed-Sowing Festival, is set to be celebrated on February 15 at Katomei, Senapati, under the theme “Celebrating Naga’s Cultural Fusion.” The event is organized 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.
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The festival marks the beginning of the new sowing season, during which farmers prepare their fields for planting. It is a time to express gratitude for the previous harvest and seek blessings for a bountiful new season. The celebrations include cleansing and rejuvenating the community, farms, and forests while strengthening social bonds among the Naga people to promote harmony and cooperation.
Farmers perform rituals and prayers as 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 conduct rituals to cleanse the community, farms, and forests of evil spirits and negative energies. Cultural performances, including traditional dances, music, and storytelling, highlight the rich heritage of the Naga people.
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Lui-Ngai-Ni is a vibrant celebration that showcases the cultural heritage of the Naga people while promoting harmony with nature and fostering community development.
The event will be graced by Awangbow Newmai, Minister of Water Resources, Relief & Disaster Management, Manipur, as the Lui-Ngai-Ni protagonist. MLA Ram Muivah and MLA Janghemlung Panmei will attend the inaugural function, while MLA J. Kumo Sha will be the honored celebrant at the introductory event on February 14. The valedictory event will feature MLA Leishiyo and MLA SS Olish as honored celebrants, while MLA L. Dikho will serve as the Lui-Ngai-Ni host.
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Former presidents and office bearers of the United Naga Council, members of the Committee for Alternative Arrangements, and ex-Naga parliamentarians and legislators will be present as special invitees. The celebration flag will be hoisted by Ng. Lorho, President of the United Naga Council, during the introductory function.
Following the traditional rites and rituals, the blessing and distribution of seeds will be conducted by K. Namba, Chief of the Maram tribe, during the inaugural ceremony. Various traditional performances are scheduled throughout the program. A parade of traditional attires will take place during the valedictory function, followed by a cultural fusion night later in the program.
More than 2,000 delegates from different parts of the state are expected to attend the festival, according to sources from the organizing committee.
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