Honoring women, Chaga Gadi celebrated in Kohima

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, OCTOBER 31 A local organization in Kohima town, Liangmai Welfare Society of Kohima, celebrated the Liangmai community’s festival of purification and thanksgiving ‘Chaga Gadi’ in Highland Park of the town with pomp and gaiety on Saturday. The message of the celebrations implied honor for womenfolk for their participation and contribution with men in earning livelihood for the family. Highlighting on the significance of the festival, the advisor of the organization, Namgangbi Chawang, said that the festival is celebrated after the harvest starting from the last past of October every year. The festival shows the ‘highest degree of honour’ to women, and men observe abstinence known as ‘Aliam’, wherein any form of ‘relationship’ with women is prohibited; girls are given a treat with complete rest and feast called ‘Aliukuangkan,’ Chawang said. He also informed that the festival, which is celebrated for six days, also marks the purification for men ‘for luck and for accomplishment in all manly tasks.’ The festival is also marked by sports events such as long jump and shot-put which is followed by cultural dances called Chariutao/Koksui which features marching the length and breadth of a village. On last day of the festival, in the aftermath of Chaga Gadi, leftovers are distributed to the poor, marking the end of the festival, Chawang added. Today’s celebration was also marked by presentation on folk songs, dances, traditional howling by the menfolk, tug of war and traditional couple show followed by festival feast.