Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 20
Nagaland and Assam Governor, PB Acharya on Sunday said a small state like Nagaland should be very proud that it has abundance of rich cultural activities with each tribe having their own dance, songs and drama.
Inaugurating the ‘Popular Music Night’ on the last day of the Spring Festival 2016 organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) here in Dimapur, Acharya, who is also the Chairman of NEZCC, wanted that the people of Nagaland, while being proud of their culture, to work towards preserving as well as promoting them.
He reminded the gathering of how a person without a culture is a helpless man because he has no identity.
At a juncture when the whole world requires peace, Acharya maintained that cultural activities are a strong medium to create peace in the minds of all the people. Narrating his experience during the recently held World Culture Festival organized by the Art of Living, Acharya enlightened how 35,000 artistes from all over the world came together in affinity in one platform-demonstrating the greatness of art and music.
He also expressed pride at how Nagaland state with a 100 strong performers took part in the Destination North East in Delhi and World Culture Festival in Delhi recently.
Pointing out that the North East figures in the top in the whole of the country in the sphere of cultural activities, the Governor highlighted how NEZCC, which is one of the regional cultural centre in India, has been striving to showcase the cultures of all the eight states-with the spring festival being one such event.
Acclaiming the spring festival as a wonderful idea, Acharya said through such events, different states get to showcase their music, drama and cultural activities and at the same time create friendship, peace and happiness.
The Governor, however, termed it unfortunate that except for Dimapur residents, other parts of Nagaland are denied of witnessing such a show. He therefore suggested that NEZCC authorities decide on four places in Nagaland where the spring festival can be held.
“It may be in faraway Mon, Tuensang or Mokokchung or any of the places apart from Dimapur...they also should have opportunity to witness such wonderful music, drama and song,” he said.
“For this, opinion can be taken from all people and decide on where the festival can be held,” he added. Sunday evening also witnessed a rewind of the cultural dance and folk music of the North East States with performance of Bro-Zai dance of Arunachal Pradesh, Dhol Cholom and Thang-Ta Meibul of Manipur, Warrior Dance from Nagaland, Bordioshikla and Bihu Dance from Assam, Wangala from Meghalaya, Hozagiri from Tripura and Cheraw dance from Mizoram.
The evening concluded with performances by Alobo Naga and the Band and Indian Idol Season 3 winner Prashant Tamang to a rapturous crowd.
The Spring Festival is aimed at showcasing the cultural heritage of the North East region. At least 400 performers from North East states took part at the festival. The festival also has cuisine and crafts fair for visitors and competitions, play activities and competitions for children.
