tribal livelihood
Angami Naga Tribe, nagaland
The festival of Sekrenyi is of immense cultural importance for the Angami Nagas and is celebrated during the month of February. The festival symbolizes the purification of body and spirit, renewal of community ties, and the beginning of the agricultural cycle. The melo phita comprises men and women dancing and singing in rhythm in an esteemed form of dance as a ceremonial occasion. The festival promotes the heads of unity and the mingle of society and cultural expressions in the Angami context, making the festival an integral part of Angami identity and an opportunity to celebrate their heritage.
The tribe faces challenges in its efforts to sustain traditional practices due to a number of environmental changes and economic pressures. Climate change is lowering agricultural yields; deforestation alters the patterns of hunting and gathering. Moreover, modernization and outside influences are drawing the younger generation's interests away from the traditional ways of life. Economic barriers limit their ability to rely solely on agriculture, creating situations where they pursue means of livelihood that may not hold cultural significance for them.
Efforts put in by the angami naga people have aimed at sustaining and conserving their traditions. Khonoma, for instance, presents itself as a conservation model village where local initiatives concerning forest conservation projects have maintained nature. The tribe promotes eco-tourism so that visitors can experience their culture and lifestyle while gaining sustainable sources of income. Out of respect for these efforts, organizations have come in to preserve the traditional knowledge, customs, and practices of the people, further ensuring their social and environmental sustainability.
The Angami Naga People, principally residents of Khonoma village in Nagaland, have a strong cultural identity based on their customs and traditions. The livelihood of these tribes revolves around agriculture, specifically terrace farming, which is an advanced method aimed at preventing soil erosion in the hilly regions. Besides farming, they also depend upon hunting and gathering, activities strongly woven into the fabric of their ancestral knowledge. These practices guarantee food sovereignty and serve to nurture their relationship with nature-a reflection of their sustainable way of life.
As an economic activity and spiritual endeavor, agriculture is central to angami culture. Traditionally, it knew farming, hunting, and land management from generation to generation, mostly integrated into festivals and rituals. Hence, they would always seek blessings from the spirits by paying homage to nature for better harvests hence their rituals. Such livelihoods further attest that they have extended their lives into a depth of respect for nature and belief into spirituality.
