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{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Naga words and phrases]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = ''Sekrenyi''
|type = Asian
|image = Angami_1863b.jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = Dance and singing at an Angami Naga festival
|official_name = ''Sekrenyi''
|nickname = ''Sokre-n''<br>''Phousanyi''
|observedby = [[Angami Naga]]s
|litcolor =
|longtype =
|significance = New Year
|begins =
|ends =
|date = 25 February
|date2014 =
|date2015 =
|date2016 =
|celebrations = Ten days
|observances =
|relatedto =
|frequency = Annual
}}

'''''Sekrenyi''''', also known as '''''Sokre-n''''' and '''''Phousanyi''''', is a major annual festival of the [[Angami Naga]]s, among the many festivals held by them, in the [[Northeast India|northeast Indian state]] of [[Nagaland]]. It is observed for ten days from the 25th day of the Angami calendar month of "''Kezei''" (usually corresponding to 25 February in the Gregorian calendar) under the auspices of the Angami Public Organisation in association with many other organizations and the state government. It is a "purification festival" held to wash off all past sins.<ref name=Correspondent>{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120224/jsp/northeast/story_15170784.jsp#.VxEEqf7Nsmw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630201305/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120224/jsp/northeast/story_15170784.jsp#.VxEEqf7Nsmw|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2016|title=Nagas to celebrate Sekrenyi|date=24 February 2016|accessdate=23 May 2016|newspaper=Telegraph India}}</ref><ref name=Naga>{{Cite web|url=http://kohima.nic.in/MAJOR%20FESTIVAL.htm|title=The Major Festival: Sekrenyi.|accessdate=24 May 2016|publisher=National Informatics Center}}</ref> The objective of the festival is to renew and "make holy" by cleansing the "body and the soul" of the village as a whole, and to bring forth unity among all communities of Nagaland. It also marks initiation of young people to adulthood and is considered an "identity marker of the Angami".<ref name="Joshi2012">{{cite book|last=Joshi|first=Vibha |title=A Matter of Belief: Christian Conversion and Healing in North-East India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWZjsBvrQCMC&pg=PA106|date=15 September 2012|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-0-85745-673-1|pages=12, 106–107}}</ref><ref name=Angami>{{Cite news|url=http://www.aninews.in/newsdetail2/story41784/Nagaland's-Angami-Tribe-celebrates-Sekrenyi-Festival.html|title=Nagaland's Angami Tribe celebrates Sekrenyi Festival Nagaland's Angami Tribe celebrates Sekrenyi Festival|date=16 March 2016|accessdate=24 May 2016|publisher=ANI News}}</ref> The Christian converts among the tribals have gradually rejected these rituals.

==Details==
''Sekrenyi'' is a compound word formed by ''Sekre'' meaning "sanctification" and ''Nyi'' meaning "festival." The festival calendar is linked to the agricultural cycle, which varies from village to village. Thus, the celebration is held between the months of December–March, and the duration also varies from ten to fifteen days.<ref name="Joshi2012"/>

The festival is generally held starting from 25 February as per the [[Gregorian calendar]].<ref name=Naga/> It is celebrated by both the ''Krüna Angami''/''Pfütsana'' and Christian Angami. The duration is reduced to five days for the Christian villagers who had earlier converted to Christianity but belonged to the same ethnic group; they participate in the festivities but they do not follow any of the rituals connected with it.<ref name="Joshi2012"/>

==Rituals==
[[File:Angami_1723b.jpg|centre|thumb|Angami Nagas at the festival]]
A number of rituals and ceremonies are involved with the festival. On the first day, which is known as ''Kezie'', people sprinkle themselves with a few drops of rice water drawn from a pot named ''Zumho''. The water drops are first gathered into leaves, and the chief lady of the house reverently fixes the leaves at the three main corner pillars of the house. This is followed by the men assembling at the well to bathe.<ref name=Naga/>

On the second day, young men of the village assemble in the village to perform [[Ritual purification|ablutions]]. They adorn themselves with two new [[shawl]]s, and then ritualistically sprinkle the holy water on their chests, knees and right arms as a mark of washing away all their sins and ill luck. When they come back from the well, a sacrificial offer of a cock is performed.<ref name=Naga/>

The fourth day of the festival marks the New Year of the Angamis.<ref name="Joshi2012"/> It begins with revelry by singing and feasting which lasts for three days. The young people, both men and unmarried girls with shaven heads gather and sing traditional songs the entire day; the songs relate to past days of valour and bravery.<ref name=Naga/><ref name="Maitra2011">{{cite book|author=Kiranshankar Maitra|title=Nagaland : The Land of Sunshine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-L7qAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA78|date=15 September 2011|publisher=Anjali Publishers|isbn=978-81-89620-92-9|pages=78–}}</ref> For the revelry
of music and dance, the men and women of the community wear traditional dress; while men carry head hunting spades, women carry baskets.<ref name=Angami/>

The seventh day is devoted to hunting by the young men of the ethnic group. On the eighth day, the ritual involves pulling down of a gate (meaning replacing an old gate that demarcates the property). This is followed in the next two days by the people of villages formally exchanging visits and offering greetings. During the period of the ten day festivities, field operations are suspended; in local terminology this act is called ''Penyû''.<ref name=Naga/> Following the completion of the festival period, when men of the villages have cleansed themselves and sought blessings, cultivation, house building and marriages may restart for the year.<ref name="Joshi2012"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of traditional Naga festivals]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}

[[Category:Festivals in Nagaland]]
[[Category:Naga people|Angami]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Nagaland]]
[[Category:February events]]

Sekrenyi - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article