Hega festival is a very prominent and popular festival of Nagaland; North East India. It is celebrated by the Zeliang community in Nagaland. Persistently praying to God and thanking him for his blessing is an important part of this festival. People offer prayers to god and appeal to bless them with joy, harmony, courage, prosperity, fertility, luck and riches. Hega could be a competition of large importance to the Zeliang community. It is one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the Zelaing people. It is a sort of Valentine’s Day for the Zeliang those who celebrate this competition harmonically and in amiable spirits. Young couples are engaged and wed throughout the course of this competition. It is believed that the those who unify or engaged throughout this competition have an extended lasting and fruitful married life. Cultural dances and popular music genre could be a half and parcel of this competition. The performances are also forms of prayer. The Zeliang culture is mirrored within the several ceremonies and rituals. The events and celebrations of the competition continue for concerning 5 whole days. The preparations for the festival are made beforehand. The competition follows a pattern of rituals to be dole out on specific days. The rituals involve programs of flamboyant siltation and singing. It conjointly is a business competition for tourists WHO visit particularly to watch the competition.
HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL
Hega competition is widely known so as to express appreciation towards god for all the privileges he had offered. People join in prayer to appeal the Almighty and ask him to shower them with blessing in the form of luck, riches and courage. The merry festival brings people together in unison. People raise the almighty to safeguard them throughout tough times.They conjointly raise God to indicate them the right path throughout their tough times.
DURATION OF THE FESTIVAL
Hega festival is celebrated every year in the month of February. The processions carry out for about five days. Each day is appointed for an exact ritual, ceremony or follow. The celebrations begin from the 10th of February and conclude by the 15th of February.
HIGHLIGHTS/ IMPORTANT RITUALS OF THE FESTIVAL
- The first day, known as Hega Teu Dap kick starts with sacrificial killing of animals at every home. If an individual doesn’t own associate associational for the ritual they either obtain associate animal particularly for the ceremony earlier or an animal is shared by friends or neighbors for the purpose. The grandparents invite their grandchildren over for a shared meal, later the children are presented with songs that have been originally orchestrated for them. Bride and groom are gifted with traditional garments.
- The second day is known as Herie Kap. On this day the gate keeper of the village offers prayers for protection. Further, he makes manner into the forest to supply another prayer for god to direct him within the direction of the kill tree. A tree is chosen and a coraciiform bird is sculptured out from the wood of the precise tree. The coraciiform bird is then place at the most gates with decorations for cover. At evening the center of the picket coraciiform bird is tried and punctured permanently luck.
- The third day is known as Tsing Rak. The bride, at the side of the women from the village head resolute the forest early within the morning to cut fuel for a alter ceremony. This requires fresh firewood only. The men on the opposite hand head into the jungle to chop down an oversized tree. At evening the bride carries a tiny low piece of fuel and a bit of sliced wood and places it at the most gate and also the last gate of the village. The remaining individuals of the village enact out identical ceremony when the bride completes the ritual.
- The fourth and the last day are known as Rodi. This day is full of joy and celebration. Men partake in wrestling and jumping competitions. The winner is obliged to make a cash donation to the high priest. The rest is followed by singing and dancing. Songs of love and longevity are sung.