Pochury community celebrates Yemshe festival with traditional fervour

KOHIMA — The Pochury community in Kohima and Phor village celebrated its premier festival ‘Yemshe’ with traditional fervour. Yemshe is celebrated to welcome the new harvest of the year and invoke God’s blessing for a bountiful harvest.

The Pochury community in Kohima celebrated ‘Yemshe’ at the Cathedra Jubilee Memorial Hall on Saturday with the advisor of New and Renewable Energy and NSDMA, Nyusietho Nyuthe, as the chief guest. The celebration was organised by the Pochury Hoho Kohima (PHK).

Speaking at the celebration, the advisor stated that the main idea of the celebration was to invoke God’s blessing.

“In the Naga society, there is a deep meaning attached to all the festivals. One of the main purposes is to seek blessing before doing anything,” Nyuthe said.

Speaking on the significance of Yemshe, the PHK general secretary, Thosiepa Katiry, stated that the people of Pochury community anxiously wait for the festival which is celebrated in the first week of October every year.

“Yemshe is celebrated to welcome new harvest. All young and old, rich and poor, celebrate this festival with great pomp and gaiety, anticipating a good harvest they deserve after a year’s hard labour under scorching sun and the rain. No one is allowed to go for harvest until the whole period of festival is over,” he explained.

He explained that ‘Yemshe’ is traditionally celebrated for 22-day commencing from the later part of present day September with observance of different rituals till the final day which is known as ‘Sanctification day’ that falls in the first week of the present day October every year.

He added that ‘Yemshe’ is now observed on October 5 every year keeping in tune with the final day, which is known as ‘Sanctification day.’

Also speaking on the occasion, former MLA Yitachu has attributed the present day condition of the community due to lack of education and economic difficulties owing to its geographical location bordering. Stating that unity and brotherhood is the only way to take the community forward, he encouraged to come together for the development of the society.

PHK president Tv Wachusie Katiry delivered a welcome address, while the president of Tenyimia Union, Kekhwengulo Lea, and the president of Angami Public Organisation (APO), Thejao Vihienuo, also delivered short speeches.

Folk songs and folk dances presented by different groups marked the celebration. 

Nyuthe also attended the ‘Yemshe’ celebration in Phor village under Meluri sub-division of Phek district on October 4.

Addressing the public, the advisor appealed to the Pochury community to pray for unity and oneness in the society.

The ADC of Meluri, Neilezo Tep, delivered the greeting message, while PAPO Paratsü shared the significant of the Yemüshe festival and the vice president of USLB, Kipithong Sangtam, delivered the solidarity note.

The celebration featured cultural dances and traditional games from five areas of the Pochury region.

Yemüshe festival, the premier festival of Pochury tribe, is celebrated every year from October1 to the 5th.

Also read: Nagaland Governor greets Khiamniungan, Pochury communities