On the joyous occasion of Monyiu festival Chief Minister of Nagaland Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu has wished the Phom community a happy and a successful Monyiu 2017 celebration.
He said that it is a spring festival normally observed in the first week of April after the sowing is done in paddy fields in order to invoke God’s blessing to have a bountiful harvest. He mentioned that Monyiu also marks the end of winter and the onset of spring. Traditionally, it is also a time for jubilation, sharing of love and concern with relatives and friends by exchanging gifts, rice beer, meat and various food items and also by making merriment.
Monyiu is also the time when young boys and girls would be taught the customary practices which needs to be upheld, he maintained. Folk songs and dances are taught during Monyiu. It is also the time when young boys renew the curtail relationship with their close friends by inviting them to have feasts, which is called MONGCHEMBA HAHYING.
The Chief Minister also expressed happiness that the Phom youngsters are making strong efforts to rediscover and preserve their rich cultural heritage. Students’ unions of every Phom village are playing commendable role in this direction. He added that the Phom-Naga youngsters must also continue to make every effort for the preservation and development of our rich cultural heritage.
