The Chakhesang Nagas are known for their appetite for festival atop the green hills in Nagaland. The much vaunted festival for this colourful tribe in the north eastern state is Tsukhenyie festival which marks the onset of the sowing season in Phek district.
There was a time when these people celebrated the event at the end of the third lunar month of March. But now they observe the event on May 6. Spring fetches them new hopes aspiration and encouragement. The four days annual event is, precisely, an occasion for the tribes to focus their traditional games along with music and dance that keeps their tradition and cultures alive much to the delights of the domestic and foreign tourists who throng the hotspot to catch a glimpse of the festivities after the harvest.
The village priest sacrifice a cock to mark the beginning of the festival in the morning. The male folks in large number throng beside a designated well for a purifying bath where they are allowed to use only new gourd dipper. Dressed in new clothes after the bath, the male folks invoke the God in search of strength, long life and good harvest.
Only the unblemished male domestic animals are allowed to be slaughtered for the occasion. These are served among the near and dear ones consumed along with new wine. The married women, mostly, visit their parents and family members.
Now a days, the male youths make it an occasion to figure out the most beautiful girl in the nearby villages. This is followed by a huge feast accompanied by sports, songs and dance.
The end of the festival marks an end to the leisure time which paves the way for them to concentrate only in their activities for livelihood. These people were earlier known as Eastern Angamis who are said to be a combination of the Chakri, Khezha and Sangtam sub-tribes. Now they are divided into two groups--Chokri and Khezha.