Mao Nagas Chiithuni Festival Celebration 2022

Chiithuni festival is the celebration of human life created by the Gods of gods on the first month of the year. Therefore Chiithuni is called the New year festival of Mao Nagas as it falls in the first month of the Mao Lunar Calendar. Chiithuni is also known as ‘feast of dawn’ , an occasion to rejuvenate the cultural heritage of the Mao Nagas. Chiithuni is also known as the post harvest festival lasting for six days because it is celebrated after the crops(paddy) are safely brought home and preserved in barns.
Chiithuni festivals are thanksgiving to the Gods of gods for the gift of life, health and wealth, a sense of unity, equality and brotherhood or sisterhood and spiritual closeness to God that make up a happy and fulfilled life.
Chiithuni festival entails a lot of sacrificial rituals, physical and spiritual purification. The concept of unity brings about social cohesion within the community leading to overall welfare. The people share the festive joy by sharing their own food and drink with others. Thus Chiithuni recapitulates the Mao concept of good life within the layer context of the Mao worldview which is a holistic conception of the human person, a well blended combination of mind with emotions and spirit.