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Siron Molo Sochum - Nishi Festival
The biggest festival of the Nishi is called Siron Molo Sochum and is celebrated
in the Nishi month of 'Ram
Po-Lo' every year. Before this festival all houses and granaries
are rebuilt and all the crops like dry paddy, millet, maize are harvested
and stored in the granaries. For the festival, house holders cook rice,
meat and prepare apeng
and entertain guests and receives blessing for more abundant crops next
year. It is believed by the Nishis that the more guests are satisfied
with food and drink, the more crops will grow in the coming year.
On the day of the festival, all singers of the village
sing old history of the Nishi people. In the song, it is described that
the God Nima Teni did not worship the goddess of crops and goddess therefore
moved away to the land of summer and entreated the goddess of crops and
ultimately married her. Nima Teni got all kinds of seeds from the goddess
and learnt the method of cultivation from her. Prayers are offered to
the goddess of crops requesting her not to go away but to fill the granaries
with the crops. If some food-stuffs disappears over night or food prints
of some animals are seen, it is believed that the goddess came to the
people and the crops will be abundant. |
