Published Paper Details:

Lamsimngyi Festival is a premier pre-harvest event held on the 30th and 31st of October celebrated annually by the Zeliang Naga tribe. This vibrant festival, first recognized as a restricted holiday in 1966 by the State Government, reflects the deep cultural, religious, and agricultural heritage of the Zeliang people. The celebration goes over six days where rituals and ceremonies were conducted that reinforce family bonds, showcase traditional customs and honour agricultural cycles. Lamsimngyi is also known as a festival of familial reconnection, where relationships between parents, married children, siblings and extended relatives are renewed. Traditional dishes are shared among family members and friends, expressing love and care. Central to the festival is the invocation of blessings for an abundant harvest, with prayers directed to the Almighty. Lamsimngyi is further marked by the cleaning of village pathways, symbolizing the temporary cessation of headhunting, which historically provided a sense of security during the harvest season. The festival also serves as a stage for traditional sports competitions, where champions are celebrated as village heroes capable of safeguarding the community. Each day of the festival has its own distinct significance, from the consecration of male children to communal feasts and competitive games. Through these customs, Lamsimngyi fosters unity, strengthens cultural identity, and promotes agricultural prosperity within the Zeliang Naga society.