English: Khaozaosie Hok –Ah Festival

Khiamniungans’ are one of the major Naga Tribe(s) with habitation both in India and Myanmaar. There are many festivals observed by the Khiamniungans monthly, sometimes two festivals even falls twice a calendar month. These festivals are celebrated with different unique significances as cultural traditions passed down through generations.

One among the many major festivals observed by the Khiamniungan tribe is Khaozaosie Hok –ah which is celebrated in the month of January. It marks the end of all cultural activities and begins a time to rest. The definition and meaning of the festival name is; Khaozao ‘Bamboo cup with a straw pipe’ Sie ‘brew of local wine’ and Hok ‘Leg’ and Ah means ‘Rest’. Therefore, the festival is about rest and celebration with a local brew, or described as time of rest and celebration giving thanks to God for the bountiful harvest and triumph over adversities throughout the year.

To mark the festival a chicken, pig, cow, mithun or any other animal is killed, thanking the almighty for the blessing with a bountiful harvest. It is a time of fun and merry making, by way of organizing indigenous games, events, competitions and performances of cultural dances. This festival is celebrated with great feast. During this occasions the young male folks who got their new weaved shawl were dedicated in morung by killing a chicken to have on as a promotion to a warrior or manhood.

Khaozaisie Hok-ah hence remains and practiced to date which are handed down from generations to generations. To conclude that, the month of the festivals falls the year end, a weather cycle or monthly sequence of the forefathers not relate to the year version monthly calendar. And that the festival observed with rest and celebration with triumph after bountiful harvest.