Festivals of Phek District reflect the colourful culture of the local inhabitants. Interestingly, Phek District is considered as the land of festivals. Each festival is celebrated one after another throughout the year. Most of the festivals of Phek District are associated with agriculture. During the celebration of these festivals, people decorate their houses are decorated. The different villages have different timing for festivals due to climatic conditions; however the reason and the mode of festivals are basically same.
Some of the popular festivals of Phek District are as follows -
Khuthonye: It is celebrated during July after completion of the terraced field cultivations. They work and toil hard for a month to procure a year provisions. This is also a time for harvesting millet.
Turhinye: This is a festival celebrated with the objective of preserving the crops from wild animals. During this festival, community work such as repairing, cleaning of roads and village paths are done. It is celebrated during the month of August.
Thurinye: This festival is celebrated in the month of December. After all the harvest the granaries are full of grain. A bachelor has to perform a ceremonial rite called `Mudzu`. People offer their gratitudes to the Gods for protecting their crops from sowing to the stage of harvest.
Sukrunye: It is celebrated during the middle of January. Of all the festivals it is the most important because it is the ceremony to ensure good health of the community during the coming year. The main highlight of the festival is `Sukru` meant for the men folk.
Ngunye: This festival falls in February. It is a festival for rejoicing. During this festival traditional games and sports are played. It is marked with singing indigenous songs, folk dances and wrestling. People march in procession in their traditional attires.
Tukhanye: This is the last festival celebrated by the people residing in Phek District. It is celebrated during April. This festival marks the beginning of the yearly routine of hard work cultivation. With the end of celebrations, people become more active for the cultivation activities.
Chakhesang people of Phek District celebrate festivals with utmost enthusiasm and gaiety. People put on new cloth and decorate themselves with priceless traditional ornaments. Participation of men and women in the celebration of these festivals is the most prominent feature. They sing songs and dance and participate in the festival with a sense of unity and equality.
