UKHRUL, February 15, 2026: The premier seed-sowing festival of the Nagas, Lui-Ngai-Ni 2026, was celebrated with grandeur at Ukhrul District Headquarters under the theme “Cultural Renaissance.” The two-day event was organized by the United Naga Council (UNC) and hosted by Tangkhul Naga Long, drawing tribal leaders, legislators, church representatives, and cultural troupes from across Naga-inhabited areas.
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| Nagaland CM Dr. Neiphiu Rio addresses the gathering during Lui-Ngai-Ni 2026 celebration in Ukhrul, calling for cultural renaissance and Naga unity. (Image: TNP) |
Marking the onset of the spring planting season, the festival served as both a spiritual invocation for a bountiful harvest and a platform emphasizing unity and shared identity among the Naga people.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who also serves as President of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) Central, attended as Chief Guest. He inaugurated the celebration by unveiling the Lui-Ngai-Ni Monolith in the presence of tribal presidents and dignitaries. The dedication prayer was offered by a local church pastor.
The celebration witnessed the presence of Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho (Guest of Honour), along with MLAs from both Manipur and Nagaland, representatives of tribal hohos, civil society organizations, and church leaders.
Speakers described the theme “Cultural Renaissance” as a conscious effort to blend tradition with modern aspirations. While acknowledging that practices such as headhunting belong to history, leaders stressed the need to preserve Naga values of hospitality, generosity, moral discipline, and communal solidarity.
Organizers emphasized that cultural revival does not mean retreating into the past, but rediscovering and reinterpreting ancestral wisdom for the present generation. Through indigenous music, dance, rituals, and traditional attire, the festival showcased the diversity and unity of approximately 66–67 Naga tribes spread across India and Myanmar. In Manipur alone, 20 recognized Naga tribes and one associate unit were represented.
Central to the celebration was the solemn seed-sowing ritual led by traditional leaders, invoking blessings for rain, fertility of the soil, and protection from drought and disease. Seeds were distributed symbolically to tribal representatives.
A traditional sacred fire lighting competition was held using indigenous methods. A representative from the Rongmei tribe emerged first in igniting the flame and earned the honour of lighting the main festival torch.
Cultural performances included the blowing of the traditional Tangkhul trumpet, folk songs, tribal dances, and indigenous wrestling displays. Cultural troupes from tribes such as Tangkhul, Mao, Poumai, Zeme, Maring, Rongmei, and Maram presented vibrant performances, transforming the venue into a “living museum” of Naga heritage.
In his address, Chief Minister Rio underscored the importance of emotional integration among Nagas across administrative boundaries. He reiterated the need for a unified platform to strengthen the Naga voice in ongoing political dialogues.
“Geography may define administrative arrangements, but it cannot diminish the ties of kinship, culture, and faith that unite us,” he said, calling for Pan-Naga unity.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur conveyed greetings from the state government and stressed the role of Nagas in promoting peace and stability in the region.
In his presidential address, the UNC President Ng. Lorho reiterated the importance of protecting Naga land, identity, and political rights while upholding peace and dialogue. Speakers across the spectrum emphasized that while Nagas are spread across different states and even international borders, cultural and emotional bonds remain unbroken.
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Organizers recalled that the Lui-Ngai-Ni was christened in 1986, and the first collective seed-sowing festival was organized on February 15, 1987. The festival was declared a State Holiday by the Government of Manipur in 1988 and later recognized as a national tourist festival in 1997.
Amid prevailing regional tensions, leaders framed Lui-Ngai-Ni 2026 as a “season of hope,” emphasizing neutrality, peaceful coexistence, and unity.
As the celebration concluded with prayers and benediction, the message resonated clearly: while seeds are sown in the soil for harvest, the seeds of unity, reconciliation, and cultural pride must also be sown in the hearts of the Naga people.
