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Nyokum- Nishi Festival
The month of August every year is the time for celebrating Nyokum or the
worship of goddess of crops (Lakshmi)
and other Gods and Goddess. On the first day, before an altar of images
and symbols of the gods and goddess, the priest starts the Puja by chanting
prayer and girls dance and sing to propitiate the unseen god and goddess.
They sing about abundant crops and good will, health and unity among all
the people, joy and mutual co-operation and peace and plenty every year.
On the second and concluding day, the villagers of the neighbouring villages
perform their Puja in their villages and come in long procession. The
sacrificial animals like dogs, pigs and chicken are either carried or
hung in long bamboo poles. On the arrival at the place of worship the
people go round the altar chanting and the atmosphere seems to be sur-charged
with a feeling of devotion and godliness. The animals are sacrificed and
after invocation of the blessings, the Puja comes to a conclusion. |
