Feasts of Merit

Along with head-hunting, the Feasts of Merit constitute the basis of Naga ethics and social life. They consist in a series of ceremonies, progressively more lavish and socially important, and culminate in the sacrifice of a "seijang" (Bos frontalis). Through the Feasts of Merit a wealthy man transmits his own fertility, proof of which is his wealth, to the members of the community by offering meat, rice and rice-beer, and receiving in turn merit and social prestige.

The last feast in the cycle of Feasts of Merit, which only a few persons reach, assures honor for the promoter in this lifetime and in the afterworld.

The way and method of performing the Feasts of Merit slightly differ from community to community, yet this kind of practice to elevate oneself to the enviable position in the society is common to all the Nagas. Some of them go for stone monoliths, some for only forked wooden posts, whereas some communities go for both. Whatever the case may be, it is not the huge forked wooden posts, nor the gigantic stone monuments, that is important; the importance is on the acquisition of glory, honor and social status that are intimately associated with the Feasts of Merit. Those persons who can afford to indulge in this kind of expensive gratification earn for themselves respect and reputation of being generous and resourceful. In fact, those who who have succeeded in performing the whole series of the Feasts of Merit are perhaps respected more than those warriors who have brought maximum number of human heads. These successful performers of the Feasts of Merit automatically acquire the social sanction to wear special cloths with distinctive embroideries on them, and to add house-horns on their dwellings.