Aos celebrate Tsüngremong

Dr. SC Jamir urges Ao community to lead the way

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): Ao Students’ Union and Ao Youth Forum of Diphupar village, Dimapur jointly celebrated ‘Tsüngremong’ festival on Tuesday, August 3. Former chief minister and governor Dr. SC Jamir was the chief guest at the celebration which was hosted at Diphupar village local ground.
Dr. Jamir speaking at the function called upon the Ao community to lead the way in bringing reform in the Naga society like it did in the early era of Naga awakening. “The special characteristic of the Ao tribe is the concern and care for other people.” Thus, he said that the Aos, in particular it’s younger generation, must lead the way towards ushering unity and integrity in the society at the same fighting the social evils plaguing the society.
Stating that the Aos being a pioneer in helping transform Nagaland to what it is today must once again rise up and do so. History bears testimony to the contribution of the community to the Nagas, starting from the landing of the Christian missionaries on Naga soil to the formation of the Naga National Council, the Naga Peoples Convention, the formation of the state of Nagaland and importantly in the field of education, he reminded. On the flipside, he rued the fact that the Ao could not do much for itself. 
Dwelling on the present situation, he said that the people talk about unity and integration but where is it, he questioned. “Is disunity, division a sign of strentgth?” On top of that corruption, which has become more of an honour, has taken root like never before belying the revered culture and tradition of the people. Even uttering the virtue called ‘truth’ has become dangerous, he said. He said, in the olden days, dishonest practices and treachery was treated with contempt and such people shunned, however today people are blind to such social evils while letting it ferment. Only a reawakening of the conscience and a movement for truth can cleanse the society now, he held. He made a clarion to the youths to speak out and fight for truth.
He also brought to the fore the practice of speaking Nagamese among Naga households. If this persists, one day the people will lose its cultural roots, he said. 
Editor of Ao vernacular daily Tir Yimyim, K. Temjen spoke on the essence of the ‘Tsüngremong’.
As is the customary, the celebration was peppered with performance of various cultural songs and dances by the Ao Students’ Union Diphupar, Ao Youth Forum Diphupar, Aoyimti Kaketshir Telongjem and Ao Kaketshir TelongjemPadumpukhri.

‘Strike a balance between modernity and one’s roots’

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 2 (MExN): The Ao community of Chumukedima observed ‘Tsüngremong’ on Tuesday, August 2. ‘Tsüngremong’ is a thanksgiving festival celebrated in the first week of August to invoke God’s blessings for a bountiful harvest. 
This year it was hosted by Chumukedima Ao Students’ Union under the theme: ‘Kaket Shisatsü Aser Sobaliba nung Lirumedem’ (Education and cultural harmony) and was held at Nagaland Police Central School campus, Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre (NAPTC). Commandant, NAPTC Imlisunep, graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering Limasunep urged the youths, the students in particular, to strike a healthy balance between modernity and one’s roots. In the olden days ‘Tsüngremong’ was celebrated based on two inherent principles i.e. worship and sacrifice.  These virtuous also holds ground even today, he said, modernity notwithstanding.
Ao sobaliba (culture/custom) in essence is indepth, virtuous and sanctified, studying which one can learn a lot. Thus, he called upon the students to study and find out the finer aspects inherent therein, respect for one’s parents and listening to them being one in particular. “If we listen to one’s parents and live by principle, we’ll live a good life.”
It is common among the Ao tribe to name a child according to certain deeds of valour or honour achieved by his/her father or grandfather in their lifetime. Try and live up to the namesake, he challenged.
Urging the students not to go astray, he reminded that in the cycyle of life, the period of youth is a preparatory stage; a short one yet very crucial. A stage characterised by growth in one’s mental faculty as well as the physical. This stage, he said will define what one will eventually become in the years to come. He said: “If you want to know life, jump into the water of life.”  
Editor of Ao vernacular daily Tir Yimyim, K. Temjen spoke on the theme of the celebration.

Y. Patton graces Mangmetong Yimlang  Tsüngremong   

MANGMETONG, AUGUST 2 (MExN): Along with the rest of the Ao community, Mangmetong village celebrated the pre-harvest festival Tsüngremong on Monday with Parliamentary Secretary for Geology & Mining, Irrigation & Flood Control and Border Affairs, Y Patton, as the chief guest. Addressing the festive gathering at the village community hall (Imrong Salang), the parliamentary secretary conveyed his happiness at being invited to celebrate the colorful festival at Mangmetong, the native village of Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen.
Patton said that the DAN government led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio is focusing on all-round development of the state including remote and far-flung villages. Stressing on better road connectivity to enhance the economy of the rural people, he said that the government is trying its best to connect districts and villages by laying new roads. He informed that some legislators including the Home minister and himself are trying their best for construction of a road connecting villages of Mokokchung and Wokha districts to the commercial hub Dimapur. If the proposed road materializes, Patton said that it would only take two and half hours for villagers from the two districts to reach Dimapur.
Stating that the I&FC department had allotted works and schemes amounting to more than Rs. 2 crore for Mangmetong village in the last financial year, the parliamentary secretary assured to provide more schemes, provided the villagers co-operate with the government and Home minister Imkong Imchen. Further, the parliamentary secretary assured to look into a proposal in the farming sector put up by the villagers, though the proposal did not come under the ambit of I&FC department.
Greeting the villagers on the festive occasion, Patton also urged the villagers to use the auspicious day to let bygones be bygones, to forgive and forget past misgivings and to look forward to a new future. Earlier, former GB Imtiluin explained the significance of Tsüngremong and chairman Village Council Mangmetong, Imlimeren, delivered welcome address. Both the menfolk and womenfolk also presented Tsüngremong songs. Other highlights of the celebration included cultural dances and traditional indigenous games competition. Patton who also took part in a traditional game of slicing banana trunks with a razor-sharp dao was declared the ultimate “Lotha warrior” and gifted a leg of a slaughtered pig.

Spread the message of unity: TR Zeliang

Longsa, August 2 (MExN): The Tsüngremong festival at Longsa village today saw a mixed array of cultural fusion between tribes as they converge at Longsa village to celebrate the pre-harvest festival of the Ao Naga tribe here today at Longsa village, Mokokchung. Neighboring villages of Longsa, especially from Tuensang also partook in the Tsüngremong festival thro ugh dances adding much color to the celebration.
The chief guest on the occasion, TR Zeliang, minister for Planning, expressed deep appreciation to the Longsa villagers for celebrating the Tsüngremong festival in unity and in harmony. He pointed out that Longsa is located in a strategic tri-junction connecting three districts – Zunehboto, Mokokchung and Tuensang – districts of Nagaland, and that it is an epitome of friendly tribal relationship which can be manifested by the participation of neighbouring tribal villages in the Tsüngremong festival.  (In the previous years, neighbouring sumi villagers and Sangtam villages took active part in the celebration of Tsüngremong at Longsa adding much colour to the festival).
Saying that the Nagas are respected and recognized by outsiders, however the greatest issue is the non recognition fellow Nagas by Nagas which is posing the greatest threat to the peace and unity of the Naga people. In this regard, he urged the participants to spread the message of unity through the celebration of this Tsüngremong. Zeliang said that the government would ‘try to’ set up a Community Training Centre at the village. He said that he would talk with the different government agencies and would sanction 50 lakh to one crore for the said project.
The guest of honor J Lhungdim (IDAS) Advisor Planning NEC also spoke on the occasion. He expressed his happiness on being a part of the Longsa Tsüngremong festival. He challenged the youths not to forget their roots, but rather go back to their roots; so that God would bless the Naga youngsters just as He blessed their forefathers.