Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat joins Tikhir log drum pulling at Naga Heritage Village Kisama on December 3 as part of 25th Hornbill Festival 2024. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 3
Union Minister For Culture & Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat today joined the traditional log drum pulling programme of Tikhir Nagas as part of the 25th Hornbill Festival 2024 at Kisama. The programme was managed by Tikhir Tribal Council, which started from Gate 2 till Tikhir Morung at Kisama.
Shekhawat expressed his excitement in joining the programme, describing it as “Amazing.” “Anything is possible when people are together,” he said.
Tikhir Naga community is the seventeenth recognised tribe of Nagaland. In the olden days Log drum plays a significant role in Tikhir community. They believe, log drum to be a symbol of victory, prosperity, truthfulness and also consider it as an epitome or monument of warfare.
During the preparation of log drum in the deep jungle, the leader first select the tree and makes a cut mark and they believed that if fresh leaves fall from the selected trunk it indicate longevity and Prosperity, and if dry leaves falls it indicate misfortune for the community. In the tradition of the Tikhir Naga, the log drum becomes more than a wooden artefact; it transform into a guardian of the people and a symbol of their collective spirit.
The log drum hails from 139th pillar along Indo-Myanmar international border, from Pokphur village.
Sikkim’s Tourism Minister Thsering Thendup Bhatia, Nagaland Tourism & Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along and several other legislators also joined the log drum pulling.
