The Hega festival is one of the most important and the biggest festival amongst the Zeliang community. It falls in the month of February from 10th to 15th every year. It is a festival invoking the Almighty God to shower his blessing upon his people with richness, luck and courage. It is also a festival of joy, rest and get together. On this day people pray to the almighty God for protection and guidance. On this festival the young couple are united for their future. The festival is announced earlier and all the preparations are done before hand. And the festival begin with variety of programmes and merry making.

First Day ( Hega Teu dap )

On this day all the killing of animals for the festival are done in  every household and those who have no such animals ether buy or share with other members. On this day itself the eldest of the family call his grandsons and daughters for the common meal to his house. Here they share special song which are composed specially composed for their grandsons and daughter. The grandsons and daughters have to wear shawls for that special occasion.

In the evening the engaged couple specially the bride will present all the traditional dresses like shawls and other garments. Together with the boys and the elders there will be a common gathering at the bride groom’ s Morung (the bride and the bridegroom are included).

Second Day (Herie kap)

On the second day of the festival, the gate keeper of the main gate will have a special and separate prayer invoking the protection of the Almighty to the Villagers and to shower his blessing in all walk of like for the year to come. After the prayer he would go to jungle and there also he will have a special prayer asking God to show him the right tree for the sacrifice. When it is shown to him the youth will cut it and shape it into a Horn Bill and put it up in the main Gate with decoration and other necessary things.

In the evening the elders and the boys will make noise (Nro) and go up and down the whole village for two three times and at the end they will try to pierce the heart of the wooden Horn Bill. If they manage it then it is good luck. Richness and blessing will be bestowed to his children. After this all men and boys will gather I their own Morung to have special prayer specially for good luck in hunting.

Third day ( Tsing Rak )

On this day early in the morning the bride will gather all the girls from her Khel. They will go to the jungle to cut fresh firewood for the evening. This firewood is split into small pieces and the bark is also taken out. In the meantime the elders and the youth from the khel will go to the jungle and cut a big tree which is shaped and colour is put on the two wooden pieces showing the purity and the virginity of the bride.

In the evening the bride will carry the two wooden pieces which signifies her life. The firewood and the wooden pieces are kept in the main gate or the last gate of the village. With these two heavy wooden pieces ( ten to twelve feet in height ) the bride will start from the gate and the rest of the boys and girls will carry the firewood and follow the bride to the girl’s Morung. And on this night the bridegroom will provide food and drink to the girls in the Girl’s Morung.

Fourth day (Rodi)

The fourth day and the last day of the festival is the most important day of the festival. In the morning the boys will prepare a place for long jump and for wrestling ( a place which is set apart by our forefathers ). On this day traditional dresses like shawls and other garments are worn.

In the evening all the villagers will gather on that particular place where long jump and wrestling takes place. The men and boys will make noise ( Nro ) and go up and down the village for three times. After this they will come to the jumping place and make noise two times again (invoking god to bless the villagers for their work). Then ( Nro) the long jump will take place and after that the wrestling . The winner of the long jump will have to give in kind or in cash to the village High Priest. Then there will be singing together with the bride up and down the village. The songs are of love, praise and farewell song to the bride and the bridegroom, especially to the bride because she can never take part again in the dance or in such practices.

At night the bride would visit each household encouraging men, boys and girls to take part in the dance. For the elders ( men ) she will prepare special soup from meat and give them for their health and strength for the dance.

Last day ( Koksui )

It is the last and the most important day of the festival. Here you will see early in the morning people putting on their traditional dress getting ready for the dance. The bride together with some of her friends will go round the village and will give bath to those who are unwilling to join the dance. For the bride it is the last dance in her life ( a  married girl cannot join the dance again ). This dance can be participated only by virgin girls. For boys and men whether they are married or not can dance if their health permits .

The dances are performed in the evening with different steps and meaning. After the dances, all the dancers will go to the whole village singing and dancing, at some places they will play games and sing songs together with the bride and bridegroom.

From the first day of the festival new fire is lit by the eldest from each khel and these elders have to take only pork throughout the festival. Also during the festival no men should sleep with their wives for losing of good luck and courage especially of hunting. On the sixth day elders put off the new fire and celebrate. But the rest of the villagers can start their works from that day onwards with all the blessing and luck from Almighty God who always care for his children.

CHEGA GADI

Chega Gadi is another important and popular festival of the Zeliang people, being celebrated by the forefathers and still being celebrated up to this date. The genesis of this festival marks the peoples beliefs that on this day the Almighty showers blessing and good harvest and health. However the date for the celebration often differ from communities and villages, which is usually fixed according to their conveniences. The Liangmai community celebrate this festival usually at the last part of Chegahui i.e. October.

Earlier the forefathers observed this festival for a duration of 4 -5 days. However , the duration is reduced to even 3 to 4 days on times of any casualties. The people wait anxiously even at midnight to see the first new moon, which is believed to be a boon and bring blessings of God. After the appearance of the moon the priest of the village ( Singkupiu ) makes and announcement and the people began necessary [reparation such as dresses, attirements, food and drinks. After all the preparations are over, the Priest make another announcement as a prelude to the festival. The next morning the youths of the village men folk and womenfolk go to the jungles to cut firewood and bring them to their respected morungs . At noon the men folk go to make new cups and plates of bamboo to be used only in the festival. In the evening the men folk again will go to draw water to be used in the Morung. From this day onwards a separate fire place will be made for men folk usually at a room called ‘ AKHANGKI’ and cooking is separated from the womenfolk of the family. At sunset all the men folk along with 2 (two) High Priest will go outside the main gate of the village for making new fire to be used for the festival and the males are then blessed. After which they shout signifying that they have been sanctified. The men folk collect the fire and come back to their respective Morungs and as per the tradition the womenfolk are prohibited to touch the fire, and even the cups and plates of the festival, till the third day of the festival. From this day onwards all the men folks irrespective of all age leave their homes and sleep in the Morung.