The Yimchunger folks performing a war act during a cultural show at the Hornbill Fest.
Yimchunger is one of the minor Naga tribes of Nagaland, India.
According to the Yimchunger tradition, the tribe emerged at a village called Moru, and then came to the Jure village. The Yimchungers and the Khiamungans are believed to have migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave. They separated into two groups at the Moru village.
The musical instruments of the Yimchungers include simple log drums, trumpets and flutes, similar to that of the Angamis.
The traditional dress of the Yimchungers includes colorful cane-made headgear decorated with hair and bird feathers.
Metemneo festival
Metemneo is the traditional 5-day harvest festival of the Yimchunger tribe. It is celebrated after the millet crop is harvested, usually in the second week of August.
The ceremonies are inaugurated by the village elder khiungpu.
Day Ceremony Description
1 Sito Communal cleaning of the village, repair of village roads
2 Shito Repair of the paths leading to the fields, clearing up of intrusive landslides
3 Zhimto Repair of inter-village roads
4 Chiresco Cleaning of water points and springs
5 Siresok Cleaning and worship of agricultural tools
The tribals also pray for the souls of the decesased, invite friends to home and exchange gifts. The festival is also marked by the engagements between the young tribals.
The Hornbill festival held in the first week of December shows that with its stunning natural beauty and great cultural traditions, Nagaland can offer a rich fare to tourists.
NAGALAND, with its diverse tribal culture, is a land of festivals. A narrow strip of mountainous territory with rugged hills, emerald valleys, sparkling streams and a rich variety of flora and fauna, the 16th State of the Indian Union has salubrious climate throughout the year. It is bounded by Assam in the west, Myanmar in the east, Arunachal Pradesh in the north and Manipur in the south. Sometimes referred to as the `Switzerland of the East', Nagaland represents unimaginable beauty, moulded perfectly for a breathtaking experience. For the adventurous, the State is an ideal place for trekking and jungle camping and offers limitless possibilities for exploring its lush sub-tropical rainforests, which are a treasure trove of medicinal plants. The 20-lakh-strong Naga people, by nature, are fun lovers, and life in Nagaland is one long festival.
Source: Wikipedia, hornbillfestival.com
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