Location:
The Kharu (village gate) is always located at the main road leading to the village.

Wood used for carving gates:
No branch of the tree should be broken, blemished by man or animal not even holes pecked by birds it should be a perfect tree. The grains of the tree should be straight (if it is knotted, there is a belief that there will be loss of live.) When the timber breaks into pieces while carving, there is a belief that the future generation will have loose morals.

Rituals:
After the tree is identified by the villagers, a wealthy man of the village with social standing is sent to forest with his packed lunch to shake the tree and come back to the village and sleep on it. If his dream is bad, that tree is not fallen to make a gate. But if hisdream is not bad, the tree is fallen to make the gate. (He usually dreams a dream or if at all he does not get any dream, the tree is not used). The gate is usually named after that wealthy man who goes to shake the tree before it is fallen. This man is bonded not to travel, host guests from other villages, till the carving of the gate is completed. On the eighth day of phousanyi (a cleansing festival celebrated annually), with their packed lunch, they don‟t cook in the forest (meat, wine) the men folk of the village attired in all their fineries, go and pull the gate. While the gate pulling procession is on, no one can cross the line. They can beat the person who crosses their path. Before the gate is pulled, a warrior from the village sprinkles rice beer around the gate and asks for blessing and symbolically pulls the central rope.

After pulling the gate to the desired spot of erection, a warrior asked this blessing over the gate:
Blessing of strength, Blessing of good morals, wealth, abundance, wisdom, health, Blessing of longevity, Be more blessed than others.

Signs and symbols in the gate and meaning:
• Human figures:
To let the generation increase.

• Cow and man:
The gestation period of both the cow and human are 9 to 10 months, so this two figures signifies to not let one be without the other and that they grow together.
(Wealth and prosperity)

• Guns, Spears and shield, Dao (matchet):
This weaponry signifies victory over enemies.

• Cock:
The cock will warn you about your enemies approach.

• Paddy and Breasts of the goddess:
Let the breast milk of the goddess fall on the paddy. (Signifying health and prosperity)

Trees grown near the village gate:
• "Hutuo" ( commonly known as "Flame Tree‟ - Erythrina - a red flower):
To let mankind grow beautifully.

• "Thesü" (a tree common only to this area which many people are allergic to):
To let mankind grow up to be proud, strong so that others will respect them.

(Basically, to ward off the curse of the enemies and to provide immunity from the enemies and to give them strength)

Other information I got from narrations:
The last ceremonial gate pulling (with all the rituals) was done in the late 60s (the gate next to the one which the Japanese soldiers sawed into two during WW II).

No person were allowed to touch the gate except the warriors who opens the gate at the break of dawn and gives the war cry signaling to the villagers that the gate guard of the day has started his watch and it is safe to venture out (the Vanguard). (This guard watch over the villagers while they work in the field). At the end of the day, the same warrior gives his war cry in the field which is a sign for all those in the field to head home. The warrior is the rear guard. After he comes to the village, he checks on the security of the village, all the visitors who are not guests of the village are suppose to leave the village before he closes the gate. No one can enter the gate after it is closed. (Different warriors take turns to do this duty).


Kharu (L-R) Kohima Village, Khonoma Village, replica at Kisama.