Chakhabama village, Nagaland

Social practices, rituals and festive events are habitual activities that structure the lives of communities and groups and that are shared by and relevant to many of their members. They are significant because they reaffirm the identity of those who practise them as a group or a society and, whether performed in public or private, are closely linked to important events. Social, ritual and festive practices may help to mark the passing of the seasons, events in the agricultural calendar or the stages of a person’s life. They are closely linked to a community’s worldview and perception of its own history and memory. They vary from small gatherings to large-scale social celebrations and commemorations. Each of these sub-domains is vast but there is also a great deal of overlap between them.
(ICH)Documentation
Chakhabama village (Nagaland)

Chakhabama village inhabitated by the Angami tribe of Nagaland is well known for their crop plantation practice and extensive knowledge of rice cultivation. Women in groups do the plantation in the paddy field of the village. Being present there and witnessing the uniformity of the work going along with the flow of a beautiful melody sang by them with each individual taking their own parts bears a testimony to the fact of how joyously they engage themselves in the plantation with an enthusiasm. It’s amazing how the songs are wonderfully composed and this is a tradition that has been passed on till today where both old and young would actively participate. The song enlivens the being and adds a joy in the work with fun and energy that helps in continuing the work. The parallel flow of the song while plantation gives energy and life despite the hard working hours. These plantations are done in the month of July and August.

The practice of singing while planting crops in a paddy field is mostly followed by Angami and Chakesang tribe.

Author::

Visetuonuo Kiso
Student(M.A), Museology Department
National Museum Institute,New Delhi