Ngada festival celebrated in Chümoukedima

DIMAPUR — The Rengma community celebrated Ngada, a post-harvest festival, at Agri-expo, Chümoukedima, on Thursday.

The celebration was jointly organised by the Rengma Public Organisation Chümoukedima (RPOC) and Rengma Public Organisation Dimapur (RPOC).

Delivering Ngada greetings, MLA and chairman of DPDB Tseminyu, Jwenga Seb said that Ngada brings peace, happiness and joy as the post-harvest festival symbolises reconciliation, reconnection and renewal.

The legislator reminded the gathering that unity, honesty, and mutual respect are values cherished by the forefathers and urged the community to uphold these principles as custodians of their culture and ambassadors of their heritage.

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Seb  also noted that although festivals may differ in date and form across communities, they all serve the shared purpose of preserving tradition and identity.

Western Rengma Hoho president, Njilo Kemp, extended Ngada greetings and highlighted three central themes of the festival — gratitude, renewal of relationships, and the aspiration for prosperity.

He described Ngada as a season of thanksgiving and celebration, a time to reinforce family and community bonds through forgiveness, compassion, and mutual support.

While urging the gathering to draw strength from past blessings and he called on everyone to contribute positively to the growth and development of their communities in the coming year.

BR Kemp also addressed the gathering as the Ngada Rüpu (chief), followed by cultural presentations, including folk dances and folk songs.

At the festival, traditional games were also organised, while a word of gratitude was offered by Anilo Rengma, the treasurer of the Ngada organising committee.

Earlier, the Ngada festival was opened with an invocation by Rev. K Methalo, followed by a special presentation from the Kandi Group, while a welcome note was delivered by Khunenchu Magh, convenor of the Ngada organising committee, followed by a special presentation by Jolo Voice, DRBC.