One Culture, One People
Nehemiah Rong
Thousands of Nagas living in Manipur converged in Ukhrul town to celebrate the Lui-Ngai-Ni 2006 under the theme ‘One Culture One People.’ Lui-Ngai-Ni is a collective festival of the Nagas observed on the 15th of February every year. This is a seed sowing festival after which tribes belonging to the Naga group (living in present Manipur State) begin their cultivation. Social-gathering, songs, dances and rejoicing highlight the festivity. The annual festival also plays a great role in boosting the morale and strengthening the bond of Naga solidarity. It is also one of the tourist festivals of India.
The district H.Q. of Ukhrul district is 83 Kms away from Imphal in the east. It is one of highest hill stations of Manipur. It is famous for a peculiar type of terrestrial Lily, the Siroi Lily (Lilium macklinae sealy) that grows on the Siroy Hill. It is a place where pioneer missionary William Pettigrew was first offered a foothold.
True to the theme, various cultural dances, traditional attire shows, et al exhibit the oneness of culture proving the ties as one people. The lighting of Lui-Ngai-Ni Sacred fire was also another interesting aspect where the participants from various tribes exhibited the indigenous way of making fire.
Mention may be made here that around twenty Naga tribes are found in Manipur itself. They are Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Kharam, Lamkang, Mao, Maram, Maring, Monsang, Moyon, Poumai, Tarao, Tangkhul, Thangal, Inpui and Zeliangrong tribes. Out of 5(five) Manipur hill districts, the Nagas occupy 4(four) district that constitute about 70(seventy) percent, i.e., 15519 sq.miles, of the state’s total area of 22327 sq.miles.
On the arrival night of 14th February, Rev. Aping Khamrang, Pastor UBC invoked the almighty God to strengthen the unity, oneness and harmony. On 15th morning, when the early sun hit the hills of Ukhrul, people gathered in the TNL ground where Rev. Fr.Robert Somi beseeched God to let Nagas live together as one family, one culture, one people and also to bless the farmers. In remembrance of Late Horangse Sangtam, President, Naga Hoho who breathed his last in Bangkok on his mission for Indo-Naga peace talk, the congregation observed two minutes silence. Scores of Naga MLAs, National Workers, public leaders, human rights workers, educationists, students’ leaders’ et al were seen on dais.
Miss Alvina Gonson rapped the crowd by presenting the Lui-Ngai-Ni theme song. “So free your mind. Give your heart and soul. Let’s celebrate our Lui-Ngai-Ni. Love one another. Forgive one another, Cause love is sincerity and emotion…” goes the song. Many bands/artistes enthralled and entertained the crowd with their songs both in English and local dialects.
When coming to speeches from Ramthing Hungyo, President, Tangkhul Naga Long to Puni Modoli, President, UNC and also from Shri Mani Charenamei, Hon’ble MP(LS) it was the same that the unification/integration of Naga inhabited areas become inevitable as per the de jure of the Nagas and also the need to preserve and protect Naga’s unique culture and identity.
Ramthing in his welcome address said that he wanted to interpret the festival in two ways; it is for the prosperity of our livelihood and for the sowing seed of peace, progress, understanding and respect. Nagas’ patient of sowing seed of love, progress, mutual respect and co-existence is running out now towards the neighboring communities due to the non reciprocation of the same by the later, maintained Ramthing. Nagas are neglected and exploited in the fronts of education, economy, politics and social life to that point. Ramthing asked the Government of Manipur to release the ‘South Nagas’ to live with the other Nagas. The message of sowing seeds of love, oneness, respect, understanding and hard work do not make difference for anybody.
Puni Modoli emphasized that without the past there can be no present, and no future without the present. He also said that culture is not only a relation with one another but it is deeply related to the root. “By nurturing our culture we nurture our future generation and identity,” says Modoli. He concluded his presidential speech saying, “This year as we celebrate Lui-Ngai-Ni 2006, let us put out heads and hearts together and pray to the almighty God so that the 60(sixty) years of sacrifice and bloodshed of the Nagas may be brought to fruition in arriving at an amicable and honourable solution to the Nagas in the year 2006.” Speaking at the festival as Chief Guest, Shri Mani Charenamei, Hon’ble MP (LS), Outer Manipur said that our forefathers always set aside the best bunch of seeds to be sown the next year to yield the best harvest by strictly observing rites and rituals. ‘Ours is a struggling society, and a struggling society is a dangerous society in the age of globalization,’ said Charenamei. At this crucial juncture to make our home to live together as one people by removing the artificial boundaries, the restoration of our stand, renewal of our commitment are so mandatory stated Charenamei.
The cultural folk dances, songs, traditional hoeing portrayed the uniqueness of each tribe in particular and the Nagas in general. From the post harvest dance performed by the Mao cultural dance troupe to the Moyon’s dance of merry making after the victorious emergence of mankind from the cave and overcoming the power of the man-eater and also from Inpui ‘Khoibalong’ Dance to Poumai ‘Warrior’ dance, and also a dance Somra Tangkhul Naga (living in the border of Myanmar) and other various tribes et al, they not only added color to the day but also spellbounded and captivated the crowd, giving a feeling of past relic and rich cultural heritage. The tour de force of such various dance troupes brought a déjà vu to the crowd.
Meanwhile the convention was convened by UNC on 16th evening where various representatives of tribes’, women, student leaders, social organizations and well wishers attended. However, the detail of convention was not disclosed to the media.
Having a rickety ride through the winding uphill road to Ukhrul, everyone in the high spirit of Lui-Ngai-Ni and warmness of the heart dared the chilly blow of the cold Shiroi breeze and sat in the rain and wind to witness the event. Also, many with and without umbrellas came out in the rain in the evening of 16th February to see the crowning of Miss Lui-Ngai-Ni 2006. However, much to the displeasure of all, the Contest had to be cancelled due to incessant rain after the first round on ramp. That shower of early spring rain and heavy wind blow dispersed the crowd from the Tangkhul Naga Long ground Ukhrul only meet again at Chamdil(Chandel) next year Lui-Ngai-Ni.
