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Tokhu Emong is a post harvest festival of Lotha Tribe in Nagaland. The festival is celebrated for nine days with lots of enthusiasm and fun as this festival brings the time to rejoice the fruit of hard work with the end of labor period of harvesting.
Tokhu Emong Celebration:
The nine day long festival creates the dazzling ambience all around with excited people dressed in their best traditional attire with the common feeling of unity and brotherhood.
Tokhu Emong festival is the time to show gratitude towards each other, all people come together for celebration forgiving past animosity and bitterness.
The festival is marked by preparing delicious delicacies and inviting all friends and relatives for feast, where all people enjoy to the extreme by dining, singing and dancing together.
There is also trend of exchanging gifts of food and drinks as a token of love and friendship.
Time to Celebrate Tokhu Emong:
Festivity of Tokhu Emong Festival of Lotha tribe begins on 07 November every year. The date of the festival was not fixed earlier but later a common date for celebration was set by Wokha elders in order to strengthen unity among the community members. Every year the celebration of nine day long festival starts from November.
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Nagaland is home to a plethora of tribes and festivals, each of which adds to the diversity and rich cultural heritage of the state. These celebrations act as train of thoughts adjoining communities, thereby marking the strength of unity and impact of solidarity.
Similarly, Tokhu Emong – a post harvest festival, of the Lotha Community stresses on the point of tranquility. Celebrated on November 7 every year, this color-filled festival stretches over to 9 days. After hard toil and efforts, residents settle down to enjoy the festival.
‘Tokhu’ means moving from house to house, collecting tokens and gifts in form of naturals resources and food. However, the meaning of Emong is to put a halt for the appointed time.
Significant attraction of this festival deals with – community songs, dances, feast, fun and frolic.
Through its commencement, people relive the stories of their ancestors composed decades before.
During the festival, gracious offerings are made to the ‘Sky God’ and ‘Earth God’ seeking for blessings. A perfect blend of religion, culture and entertainment, ‘Tokhu Emong’ is widely celebrated in Wokha district.
Interestingly, after the declaration of the festival, if a stranger visits the area, he need to adhere by two alternatives. Either he leaves the village before sunset, or stay until the festival culminates. During this period, the stranger receives full hospitality.
The Nagaland Chief Minister – Neiphiu Rio & Governor – Prof. Jagdish Mukhi extended their best wishes to Lotha Community on the auspicious occasion of ‘Tokhu Emong’.
“Tokhu Emong greetings to the Lotha community. May the Almighty’s blessings be upon everyone as you celebrate the postharvest festival and may it foster brotherhood, peace and oneness. Best wishes for a happy and safe Tokhu Emong.” – tweeted the CM.
However, the Nagaland Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi has also extended his best wishes to the community.
‘Tokhu Emong signifies ending of all bitterness and strengthening the familial and social bonding. It is also a celebration of unity and gratitude. Let us always uphold these rich cultural legacies.’ – asserted the Governor.
