International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Tokhü Emong: Ritual Vocabulary of Spiritual Purity Among the Lotha Nagas

Author(s) Mr. Y. Philip
Country India
Abstract This study examines the ethnolinguistic dimensions of ritual vocabulary associated with spiritual purity among the Lotha Naga community of Nagaland, with particular reference to the post-harvest festival Tokhü Emong. Drawing on oral traditions, festival lexicon, and existing ethnographic studies, the paper explores how ritual purity is not expressed through a single lexical equivalent but is instead constructed through a network of culturally embedded terms, ritual practices, and moral-social expressions. The analysis demonstrates that key lexemes such as Tokhü (feast) and Emong (ritual halt) encode a temporally bounded sacred interval that enables processes of purification, reconciliation, and communal renewal.
The study further investigates semantic domains related to spatial cleansing, boundary regulation, ritual offerings, and mortuary practices, highlighting how these linguistic expressions function as regulatory systems governing social conduct and sacred order. Drawing on theoretical insights from Mary Douglas and Emile Durkheim, the paper situates Lotha ritual vocabulary within broader frameworks of purity, pollution, and the sacred–profane divide. Additionally, it emphasizes the moral dimension of ritual purity, where concepts such as forgiveness (Nlan sita), reconciliation (Senjümta), and kinship renewal (Wopan Yenkita) redefine purity as relational harmony.
Ultimately, the paper argues that Tokhü Emong serves as a vital ethnolinguistic and cultural institution through which the Lotha Nagas sustain their identity, reinforce social cohesion, and negotiate the relationship between the human, natural, and spiritual realms.
Keywords Ethnolinguistics; Ritual Purity; Tokhü Emong; Lotha Naga; Festival Lexicon; Sacred and Profane; Cultural Identity; Ritual Language; Social Harmony; Nagaland
Field Sociology > Linguistic / Literature
Published In Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On 2026-05-09
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