Rëra have 6 (six) major festival namely, Sampang, Pohwi, Sahnu kuroom, Ngatang, Dahwan, Peyrong or Beykuroom or Lamra and Saah Huut. The celebration of festival has its origin. Tangsas has a tale which goes on to say that Tangsas has 2 (two) brothers. It is believed that the Tangsas are the descendant of elder son. These 2 (two) brothers after the death of his father shifted to newly place from their original village in search of fertile land. While shifting to new village their mother accompanied the elder one and the seeds of the crops were taken by the younger one. During seedling season the elder asked the younger brother to lend some seeds of crops for growing it in their field. But, younger brother was not willing to lend him seeds and didn’t want to see the prosperity of his brother since he was jealous of his brother for his mother was living with the elder brother. Thus, he boiled the seed before lending it to his brother and consequently seeds didn’t sprout and produce. Subsequently, elder brother complaint it to the younger brother of the result but he repeated the same for several years.
Since, he was jealous of his elder brother as his mother was living with him. He planned to kill his own mother by telling that Rangpra (God) is not satisfied with field location and is demanding his mother to perform ritual for bumper harvest. Then elder brother believing his brother killed his mother.
After assassination of her mother he then issued the seeds which without boiling seeds hence the crops grow that year and harvest in plenty. He then organized merry making and called all his kith and kin to celebrate bumper harvest in the form of grand feast. From that onward the festivals have been started and sacrifice animal and even human for their prosperity.
The ancestors has performed such festivals and believed in supernatural power of God (Pra) and evil spirit (chaang). It is the fear of the mankind which compelled them to celebrate festivals and made sacrifices. They were of the opinion that the supernatural power will curse the human and its crops if it is not perform.
The festivals are of two types’ individual and community. The preparation of rice, meat and rice beer are conducted individually at their houses. Also the rituals and animals are sacrifice like chicken, pig etc which are prepared at every houses before common programme is been held.
The cultural programmes like dances and songs are conducted commonly and sometimes community feast are also serve.
The festivals of Sampang, Powi, Sahnukuroom, Beykuroom or Peyrong or Lamra are held once in a year at regular interval. But, the festivals of Dahwan and Ngaatang celebrated once or twice in generation by the particular clan. This is not mandatory for every families but this festival was performed only by the rich people. This was performed to show their social status as Lowang or rich. The festival of Dahwan and Ngaatang were very expensive. Customarily, every festival is to be held before the commencement of the full moon of the month. After the full moon of the month is over no festival is held in that particular month. Shah Hup and Punin hup is also type of festival but is celebrated occasional since it is celebrated only when the tiger is hunted (please see Shah hup and Punin Hup discussed below).
In religious aspect the Rëras believe in an invisible supreme being. He is called Shakewa or Rangpra meaning God. It is believed to be benevolent on every human being. The Rëras are also believed that there is malevolent spirit too. This malevolent spirits were not worshipped but offerings and sacrifices were made to appease the evil spirit fearing that it may harm mankind and damage the crops. Hence, Rangpra is the supreme in all religious aspect during festival.
Below are the festivals of Rëras:
Sampang
Sampang is a compounded word i.e. “Sam” means paddy and “Pang” means begin. Thus, compounded two words together become Sampang means beginning of the sowing of paddy seeds. This festival is held in month of March or April. It last for 2 (two) to 3 (three) days which is fixed by the villagers. It is celebrated with drinking, dancing and singing. In this festival women used to go to the paddy field and they clean the debris from small portion of the field where they sow seeds on the cleaned surface. When they reach home from the field, the elderly man at home conduct formal ritual. And kill animals for the feast but no formal sacrifice is made in Sampang. Only Wahlah or Wu-jalah (rituals performed to foresee production by seeing the position of dying chick. The chick is strangulated) is done. Villagers visit house to house and had rice beer called “Shangshi” or “Chësheyh”. And “chësoon” along with chutney locally called as “Si-chut”.
Pohwi
As per the believed, this festival is celebrated in order to welcome the soul of the crops. This festival is celebrated in the month of July and August, at the time when paddy is about to bear corn. The green paddy leaves are brought in the early morning before sunrise and kept it in the Ruramchong (shrine) and sprinkled with animal blood (sacrificed animal) for bumper harvest. On the eve of the festival every household collect a wild plants called “Shamshi”. In order to brought Shamshi at home in time it is collected on the eve and kept it somewhere near village along with the green paddy leaves which is then collected early in the morning (before sunrise) on the day of festival. It is thrown on the way while bringing at home believing that the soul of the crops come along with it and is kept at every entrance and doors of the house and barns. In this festival animal is sacrifice and an instrument called “Naamnu and Lajo” are played with singing and dancing called “Sahpolo”.
Beykuroom or Peyrong or Lamra Shihn
This festival is either celebrated in the month of October or November. It is the biggest festival jointly celebrated by the entire villagers. The common feast is enjoyed on this occasion. It is perform in the entrance of the village. During this festival gates are erected at the both side of the village. A platform meant for performing ritual is constructed on the first day. It is the platform where the priest chants the rituals.
Animal is sacrifice in this festival and the bloods of the sacrificed animal are sprinkled on the paddy bundles which are brought by the women to their respective houses and hang on the Ruramchong. The priest offers a share of the meal in the name of Shakia or Pra (God) and another Chaang (evil Spirit) on two Lamrahshihn platforms. On the next day of the feast or the third day the villagers are prohibited to go outside the village and no passer-by is allowed to come from that way.
Sahnukuroom
This festival is celebrated after harvesting paddy. It is celebrated in the month of January – February. Sahnukuroom means burying of head of the mother of Paddy. Paddy plant is regarded as feminine since it bears fruit. Hence, Sahnu means mother of paddy, ku means head and room means burying. A folk song known as “Sahwi shi” is sung in this festival.
Ngaatang
Ngaatang means sacrificing buffalo. Ngaa means buffalo and Tang means sacrificing animals by stabbing or poking by spear or by pointed article made up of bamboo. Ngaatang is a grand feast thrown by the affluent as a mark of formal acknowledgement of their richness or for sake of name and fame of the particular clan. Only rich people could throw such party since it involved huge money and wealth. In such feast several buffalos, pigs etc were sacrificed or killed, several Pooku of rice-beer is prepared and several basket of rice is cooked to feed the delegates or the relatives invited from different villages irrespective of their destination and the villagers. Meat and rice beer were distributed to the relatives and the villagers according to their entitlement as per custom or the measure of their relationship. Generally, maternal relatives called Këhro (marriageable clans), Tijong, Winsa and Saalu (friendly relation). Such feasts were lasted at least for three days with eating drinking and merry making.
Before Ngaahtang the rolled-rope of the buffalo is roll from the door. If it rolls on to the Ruråmchong and on to the burning place it was sign of properity, good health of the family. Pin drop silence was maintained before or just after rolling the rope with closed door and fire is also extinct before rolling the rope. This is called “Seahway lah” meaning prediction of the health, wealth etc.
Dahwan
The evil practice called Dahwan was practiced in the olden days. It is human sacrifice and was related to religious festival. This was practiced out of their orthodox believed that such sacrifice will make progress in their livelihood. Victims were purchased from far distance place. Before been sacrifice the Dah was tortured. Before torturing the Dah, Dah was fed with one type of inedible wild fruit which made him/her mentally abnormal.
The hair and flesh of the Dah after been sacrificed were buried under the big tree called Munchong (big banyan tree). The skull and its pieces were hung on their houses. This is performed once in a life time or generation. A piece of flesh is also bought by other villagers during the sacrifice for their own rituals and accordingly animal were sacrifice when it is performed.
It needs huge amount of money and wealth to organize such festival. The invitees and relatives from far area were served with rice, meat, wine etc. during the festival. This festival and head hunting was an animistic element of socio-culture, religious and political practice conferred on the warrior as degree of social prestige and popularity.
“Gahjun” meaning driving away evil spirit from the village were performed during Dahwan. It begins from the upper side of the village towards the downward and finally throws the piece of flesh at the feet of the banyan tree.
Before Gahjun is started the fire of every household of the village was extinct and thus the fire will be burned after Gahjun is over which implies for new beginning of livelihood.