Kohima: The Angami community gathered at Khuochiezie, Kohima, on September 11 to observe the traditional Khoupfhünyi festival. Organized by the Angami Women Organisation, the event celebrated the well-being and prosperity of women and girls. It remains a day for feasting and communal unity.
Minister for Women Resources Development and Horticulture Salhoutuonuo Kruse attended as the special guest. She praised the effort to bring the community together for the first time. Kruse supported a proposal to name the day a restricted holiday on the state calendar. This recognition would foster cooperation among the Angami people.
The festival honors the girl child through traditional food exchanges, songs, and games. While modern life has changed some rituals since the community adopted Christianity, the spirit of sharing persists. Kruse released the publication Cultural Footprints: Give to Gain during the event. She urged the community to document their customs before they disappear. Preserving this heritage helps boost tourism and future livelihoods.
Angami Public Organisation president Thejao Vihienuo confirmed the group set August 28 as the official date for Khoupfhünyi Day. He plans to lobby the state government to formalize this holiday status. Kruse expressed hope for the event's future impact. “Let this festival strengthen the bonds of unity, friendship and brotherhood among our community and beyond,” she said.
Women from all four Angami ranges attended the gathering. Each group brought home-cooked traditional dishes to share with one another. This exchange reinforced the core values of the day.
Updated at 12th September 2026 at 1:48pm
Minister Kruse noted that historical traditions for the festival once included hunting and fishing, along with the custom of wearing new clothes. She also advised that future editions of the Cultural Footprints: Give to Gain publication should include photographs to better preserve the visual history of these customs.
Kruse linked the preservation of these traditions to the broader development goals of Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio, specifically noting that showcasing Nagaland's cultural diversity through events like the Hornbill Festival acts as a driver for tourism and state revenue.
The event program featured several specific contributors: AWO advisor Neilhouzono Nagi chaired the session, while AWO president Neithono R. Sothu provided the keynote address. Atono Kense shared the significance of the festival through the lens of Viswema tradition. The Southern and Western Angami Women Organisations staged a play and performed traditional songs, while Yievikhono Kitshü displayed traditional cuisine and attire. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Chakhroma Women Organisation president Dievilhoutuonuo Thakro and a benediction by Rev. Keduolhoulie Shüya.
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