LUI-NGAI-NI 2024
(Naga Seed Sowing Festival)
“Quintessential Cultural Resurgence”
14th - 15th February, 2024
LUI-NGAI-NI
(Naga Seed Sowing Festival)
The need to re-formulate a comprehensive conceptual cultural frame
-work in the emerging situation and context of globalization
cannot be overlooked. Of course, culture is a system of
conventions, laws and practices that are consciously or unconsciously
framed by a group of people to regulate their socio-economic-politico-
religio activities. It has material and immaterial aspects attached to it,
and both play a pivotal role in the conduct of an individual or a
collection of individuals in a society, and also play an intrinsic role in
the formation of a people's identity.
Nagas, in general, are community oriented and the individuals gain
community recognition, respect, adulation, and status depending on
his contributions to society. An individual's identity is determined by
one's participation in a society's culture and devoid of it, his identity
is at stake. An individual may also be stripped of his identity if his
actions contravenes the established customary and traditional
practices. It is in this context that culture has played a prominent
and significant role in shaping and molding an individual's and
society's identity. Seed sowing festival or festival of merit, etc. are
cultural practices prominent amongst the Nagas. These festivals
have both material and immaterial aspects attached to it. The festival
of merit demands a lot of hard work, determination, sacrifices,
benevolence, goodwill, etc to perform it. The givers magnimously give
to his villagers, friends and neighbours without expecting any
reciprocal material benefits from his fellow men, demonstrating
that Nagas prioritise the greatest good of the greatest number of
people over an individual's material prosperity. The performers
of such festivals are given social recognition, status and goodwill of
the participants. Seed sowing festivals are performed by all the
Naga tribes to offer gratitude and praise to the almighty for the
bountiful blessings in the year past and invoking upon Him to continue
showering His blessings on the villagers in the coming seasons.
These activities of identity formation, reliance on and supplication to
the Almighty, emphasise on cardinal moral values etc. have of late
been relegated to the background and individualism, consumerism,
capitalism have taken centre stage, resulting in degeneration of
moral and cultural values. The reasons for such a state can be traced
to the proselytizing of the Nagas, Christianity per se is not responsible
for the degradation but the ignorance of the western teachers has
contributed to our cultural decadence. Our interactions with the
outside world or “the other” first with Meiteis and Ahoms, next the
Britishers and our subsequent meeting with the Indians have had a
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almost distorted our understanding of ourselves and culture. Modern
education has, in spite of its various positive contributions, had a huge
impact on the worldview of the Nagas as it is responsible for
introducing multiple and contradictory worldviews to our society,
leading to our cultural corrosion and dilution, thereby impacting our
identity.
Our Naga society is now confronted with these multiple issues, which
need immediate attention and determined conscious intervention to
reclaim our past glory, reconstruct our culture and reorganize
ourselves on the basis of democratic, humanitarian and Christian
cardinal values and principles to establish a just society. This
endeavour must synthesize both the socio-cultural ethos, values and
practices with the cardinal principles and teachings of Christianity so
as to evolve a dynamic relationship between culture and religion. The
process of synthesis has been initiated by various people but it still
lacks a coherent conceptual framework, which has resulted in
relegating culture to the background. Such an exercise demands a
conscious determined concerted effort from all stake-holders making
the intellectual appropriation of our cultural values, principles and
practices a basic necessity. The lack of this exercise exposes us to the
danger of cultural assimilation and dilution or loss of our identity by
the more pervasive and dominant cultures. Thus risking being
uprooted from the moorings of our cultural ethos as our land is
presently flooded with foreign cultures.
It is in response to this imminent threat and the basic necessity of
protecting, preserving and promoting our culture that UNC initiated a
consultation with all Naga tribes in South Nagalim and the
nomenclature “Lui-Ngai-Ni” was christened in 1986 and a collective
Naga seed sowing festival was organized on the 15th February, 1987
and every year since then. This day is officially recognized and declared
a state holiday by the government of Manipur in 1988, and the
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India listed lui-ngai-ni as one of
the tourist festivals of India in 1997.
Therefore, to protect, preserve and promote our culture and
corollarily our identity, we must persevere in reclaiming our socio-
cultural ethos and practices and blend it consistently with Christianity.
We must reconstruct a socio-cultural-religio body of knowledge to
make it relevant and applicable in our christianized society. We must
emphasise imparting moral standards amongst our youths. The
immaterial virtues associated with such cultural events should be
emphasized and practiced. It is in this context that the theme,
“Quintessential Cultural Resurgence” is adopted. May it rekindle our
love for our culture.
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FESTIVAL GUESTS
Chief Guest Principal Guest
Eno Awangbou Newmai Eno Dr. Lorho S. Pfoze
Hon’ble Minister Hon’ble Member of Parliament
Water Resources Department and Lok Sabha
Relief & Disaster Management, Manipur
HONOURED GUESTS
Introductory Inaugural
CHIEF HOST
Special Guest
1. Eno N. Kayisii
Hon’ble MLA, 49-Tadubi(ST) AC
2. Eno Leishiyo Keishing
Hon’ble MLA, 43-Phungyar(ST) AC
3. Enoli SS. Olish
Hon’ble MLA, 41-Chandel(ST) AC
4. Eno J. Komo Sha
Hon’ble MLA, 47-Karong(ST) AC
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Introductory Session
(5:30- 8:00 pm) 14
WEDNESDAY
Assemblage of Delegates : 5:00 pm
Arrival of Dignitaries : 5:30 pm
Invocation : Rev. Namreikeu Pame, Pastor, ZNBC
Blowing of Trumpet : Kharam Tribe
Flag Hoisting : Eno Ng. Lorho, President, United Naga Council
Welcome Note : Eno R. Machundoubou, Convenor, Joint Tribes
Council
Cultural Dance : Aimol Tribe
Introduction & Presentation : 1. Eno Ch. Loli, Treasurer, SLOC
2. LOC
Greetings : Eno N. Kayisii,
Hon’ble MLA, 49-Tadubi(ST) AC, Manipur
Folk Song : Inpui Tribe
Speech : Honoured Guest
Vote of Thanks : Eno Kashahung Bariam, Member, SLOC
Benediction : Rev. CH. Widabou, Pastor, UBC
Host
Nite
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Inaugural Session
(10 am-2 pm)
15
THURSDAY
Assemblage of Public : 9:30 am
Arrival Of Dignitaries : 10 : am
Unveiling of Monolith : Chief Guest
Invocation : Rev. A.L. Khumba,
Executive Secretary, INBCA
Blessing & Distribution Of Seeds : Pouh Ningthan Pamei
Beating of Drum : Liangmai Tribe
Blowing of Buffalo Horn : Poumai Tribe
Lighting of Lui-Ngai-Ni Fire : Zeme Tribe
Welcome Note : Eno N. Gonmei Poujan, Convenor, SLOC
Folk Tune : Mao Tribe
Introduction & Presentation : 1. Eno Vareiyo Shatsang,
General Secretary, UNC
2. LOC
Special Appearance : Guru Rewben Mashangva, Padma Shri Awardee
Presidential Address : Eno Ng. Lorho, President, UNC
Cultural Dance : Kom Naga Tribe
Greetings : 1. Eno Leishiyo Keishing,
Hon’ble MLA,
43-Phungyar(ST) AC, Manipur
2. Enoli SS. Olish,
Hon’ble MLA 41-Chandel (ST) AC, Manipur
Cultural Display : Maram Tribe
Speech : Honoured Guest
In Melody : Dziiphro Teri
Speech : Chief Host
Demonstration of
Indigenous Game : Anal Tribe
Speech : Chief Guest
Cultural Dance : Tangkhul Tribe
Vote of Thanks : Eno Koruphun Tantanga, Member Secretary,
SLOC
Benediction : Rev. Dr. G. Panmei, Pastor, TCC
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Valedictory Session
(6:pm-10:00 pm)
Assemblage of Public : 5pm
Arrival of Dignitaries : 5:30
Invocation : Fr. Kaisii Moses, SDB, Administrator
Don Bosco HSS, Tamenglong
Introduction & Presentation : 1. Eno Jesse Bariampan, Member, SLOC
2. LOC
Greetings : Eno J. Komo Sha,
Hon’ble MLA, 47-Karong(ST) AC, Manipu
In voice : Shungcham Bariam
Speech : Principal Guest
In Melody : Leander Kamson
“Traditional Attires Parade”
Vote of Thanks : Eli Lungbila Teinamei Maram,
Member, SLOC
Benediction : Rev. Dr. Namsadai Kahmei,
Pastor, TBC, Tamenglong.
Flag De hoist &
Declaration of Host,
Lui-Ngai-Ni, 2025 : Eno Wng. Victor Kohring, Speaker, UNC
“LUI-NGAI-NI NITE”
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Comperes:
1. Eli Yuimila Vashum
2. Eli Keipila Lovety Maram
3. Eli Aziknga Kamei
4. Eno Khondinang
Lui-Ngai-Ni Artistes:
1. Eli Shungcham Bariam
2. Eno Leander Kamson
3. Eli Dziiphro Teri
Lui-Ngai-Ni Band
GMP The Band
Notes:
1. The State Level Organising Committee and Local Organising Committee
extend invitation upto minimum of 30 delegates from all the tribe
Hohos as official delegates
Designed and printed : Innovative Media Stop (IMS) Senapati
2. A registration fee of Rs 100 will be realized from each delegate.
3. Delegates must bring their own bedrolls.
4. Every tribe Hoho shall submit one traditional shawl
5. Traditional Attires parade is compulsory for all tribes.
6. All the delegates are requested to attend the official function in their
traditional attires.
