Festivals and Dances of the Zeliangrong
are closely linked up with religion, which is associated with their economic
vocation and socio-cultural ethos. Festivals reflect different stages of agricultural
activities, here talents, physical strength are expressed. Every month there
is a festival.
Gan-Ngai
This festival is celebrated in the month of December-January after harvest for
5 (five) days. Blowing horn herald the festival, fresh fire is made with the
ancient friction method and distributed in every household. Villagers, irrespective
of age dressed in their best attire, keep up the dance and songs, intercepting
only by short intervals of repose and break dedicated to feasting.
Rih-Ngai : (Chaga Ngai)
Celebrate during January-February is this War festival which is exclusively
for male. No stranger is allowed to enter the village. Men abstain from sexual
intercourse and foods cooked by women are not taken. An interesting feature
is Raangh-Kapmei or shooting at an effigy of a warrior with pointed bamboo splits.
It is believed that one who hit the effigy on the head, will be successful in
war, the chest, will be successful in hunting, the abdomen, will be lucky in
cultivation, etc.
Likewise there are altogether seven segments on the effigy, which they believed
would reveal their fortune of the year.
Gudui-Ngai :
Performed during the seed-sowing season in April. After completion of task
like clearance of jungle for cultivation everyone will drink juice (dui) of
ginger (Gu). Tug of war is performed between male and female as a symbolic
representation of competition between God and Goddess for possessing the paddy.
If the girls win it indicates a good harvest.
Banruhmei & Tarang :
These are two feasts of merit performed by one who is bold, brave, philanthropist,
generous and rich enough to feed the whole village. It is believed that if
a man could perform both the feasts of merit during his lifetime, he is supposed
to have accomplished his life's work.
During Banruhmei various songs and dances are performed observing strict forms.
The entire villagers, irrespective of age, will participate the feast, which
may last a few weeks. The wife of the host will perform a special dance with
a rice beer cistern of gourd, pouring it out rhythmically.
Tarang (or Kaisumei) can be performed only by those who have performed Banruhmei,
if he still can afford. Here the special house of merit called Tarang-kai is
constructed.
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