(Left)Nuklutoshi, MLA and Pangnyu Phom, Parliamentary Secretary are given a traditonal welcome at Unger village during the Tsungremmong festival celebration.
(Right)A group of dancers look on before performing a warrior dance during the Tsüngremong festival at DDSC Stadium in Dimapur, on August 3. The festival, celebrated by the Ao Naga, is a thanksgiving festival invoking the blessings of god an abundant harvest after the completion of seed sowing. (Photo/Caisii Mao)
‘Let’s emulate the values and enduring spirit of the forefathers’DIMAPUR, AUGUST 3 (MExN): Dimapur Langpangkong Senso Telongjem (DLST) celebrated ‘Tsüngremong’ with much fanfare at the DDSC stadium on Wednesday, August 3. Ao residents of Dimapur hailing from Langpangkong range, as well as guests and well-wishers turned up for the ocassion which is traditionally observed as a gesture of thanksgiving to invoke God’s blessing for a bountiful harvest. Langpangkong is one of the six ranges falling under Mokokchung district.
The celebration was graced by MLA & advisor, NBDA, L. Temjen Jamir as the chief guest. MLA & Chairman NIDC, NH Ltd Nuklutoshi and MLA T Sentichuba were also among the guests, besides a host of distinguished personalities hailing from the range.
Addressing the gathering Jamir emphasised on the importance of keeping alive one’s culture and tradition. This responsibility lies with the present generation, he stressed. He reminded that the forefathers despite having no knowledge of keeping records in written form could preserve and hand it down to the descendants. This, he said is testimony to the enduring spirit of the forefathers. He also recalled the tumultuous political upheavals of the 50’s and 60’s when the Ao as a people nearly lost their culture and in the later years the gradual absorption of Western pop culture and mainstream Indian influence from the mainland.
It is now the responsibility of the present to emulate the forefathers and to keep intact one’s culture, in the process preserving it for the coming generation and those following after them, he said. Further bringing to the fore the significance and value of culture in the society, he stated that without the knowledge of native culture, one is incomplete as a person, however high a degree (education) one may have obtained.
The significance and essence behind the celebration of Tsungremmong was delivered by Imkongmeren. MLAs T. Sentichuba and Nuklutoshialso exhorted the gathering.
No indigenous festival is complete with display of cultural items. As is customary, the celebration was peppered with performance of various cultural songs and dances by the various villages coming under the range. The chief guest donated a sum of Rs one lakh towards the DLST on the occasion.
‘Be brave enough to shun dreadful practices; be grounded in truth’
Dimapur, August 3 (MExN): Tsungremmong festival celebration at Unger village, organized by Unger Mopungsanger Tatar on August 2 was graced by S. Pangnyu Phom, Parliamentary Secretary, Rural Development & REPA as chief guest and Nuklutoshi, MLA &Chairman, NIDC & Nagaland Hotels Ltd as guest of honour.
Pangnyu in his speech encouraged youths to be brave enough to shun dreadful practices and urged the villagers to be grounded in truth. Appreciating the leadership of Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister of Nagaland, Pangnyu said that the visionary steps taken by the Government to stabilize villages, which is in the grassroots level has made tremendous progress in the development of the villages. He appealed to co-operate with the present DAN government for peace and prosperity. He further stressed people to be united and remove “isms” in the society in order to usher for positive development and also to forgive one another and work for society’s well-being.
Nuklutoshi, MLA encouraged the villagers to be united as one in the name of Tsungremmong festival and to preserve the rich cultural heritage. Welcome speech was delivered by Dr. Tali Imsong, vote of thanks by T. Chuba Imsong and end with a prayer by T. Azungla Associate Pastor (women) Unger Baptist Church. Tsungremmong greetings were also shared by four neighbouring village councils- Chuchuyimlang, Yachem, Akhoya and Kilingmen. Imtiyanger Ex- MLA shared with the august gathering. Also two vice presidents of Nagaland NPF along with General Secretary and District President of Longleng and unit office bearers with 16 member delegation from Mokokchung graced the occasion along with officials from Rural Development and District Administration and police.
