| Feasts of Merit
 The
feast of merit are the hall mark social distinction for a Naga villager.
There are series of feasts, each one costlier than the preceding one.
Every feast entitles the host to social distinction and increases progressively
his standing and position in the community. It also entitles him
to wear special dress and ornaments and decorate his house in a particular
manner, marking him out from others in the village. The Sema series of
feasts includes the observance of, in ascending order of importance, Shikusho,
Apisa, Akikyeghe and Inami kusa. The last one invites not only all the
village folk but also people of the neighbouring village and obviously
only the very rich could afford it. The Angami series included 'Thesa'
which is done twice followed by 'Zhachu' and 'Leishu'. Those who have
performed the 'Leishu' are entitled to do the stone-pulling. A huge monolith
is dragged from a distance, by the young men partaking in the ceremony,
and it is erected at a convenient place to commemorate the holding
of the feast. The stone pulling is an occasion for great festivity
in the village. The host arranges for drums of rice beer and mountains
of beef and pork, which are served to all those who join in the ceremony.
The wife plays an important part in the Genna, and so only a married man
can host a feast of merit.
T here is a feast of friendship also. It is given to
strengthen the bonds of friendship between two persons. The feast given
is expected to be returned by the friend, failing which a fine may be
claimed.
The Naga society is today undergoing a tremendous transformation.
Two factors have done much to damage the Naga character, one is political
strife in the hills and the other is planned development and the resulting
economic boom in Nagaland. A class of nouveaux riches has emerged
and most of these people are not scrupulous in money matters. They are
avaricious, self seeking and do not hesitate to sacrifice the interests
of society for their personal welfare.
The spread of Christianity, the growth of education and
the development programmes undertaken by the government have all unleashed
forces which are churning up the tribal society and rapidly changing its
complexion as well as character. A new ethos is replacing the old values
and standards. |
