Ongjinaro at Sungkotenem Park, Mopungchuket village, located approximately 20 km from Mokokchung town.
Mopungchuket, December 13 (MExN): The Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) will organise the first Ongjinaro Festival on December 14 and 15, at Süngkotenem Park, Mopungchuket village, located approximately 20 km from Mokokchung town.
“While the festival aims to promote Mopungchuket tourism by tapping into the festive mood of the season, it is also organised to promote the native 'Ongjinaro' (Sarcandra glabra) plant and mainstream it as a viable cash crop,” the Convener of Mopungchuket Tourism, Limalenden Longkumer said in a press release.
Ongjinaro is endemic to the village and has been used as a Christmas decoration item for many decades, so much so that people have adopted calling it ‘local holly.’ Mopungchuket villagers have been marketing the plant every Christmas season, not only in Mokokchung but also in Kohima, Dimapur, and elsewhere.
Longkumer stated that MCTS envisions collaborating with government agencies or interested entities to study and propagate Ongjinaro as a commercial crop. It is a shade-loving ornamental plant that requires minimal input for mass propagation and thrives in backwoods homesteads. Additionally, MCTS invites biologists and biotech experts to study the plant for its prospective medicinal values.
As part of the two-day Ongjinaro festival, visitors can experience the sight of Ongjinaro in its natural habitat in groves. Other attractions of the festival include food stalls serving authentic Ao Naga cuisine as well as fast food, sticky rice food items, dried and dehydrated local food products, fresh and dried flowers, ethnic handloom and jewelry, handicraft, music, and beverages.
Besides, there will also be a dedicated kids' play zone and the opportunity to experience a traditional Ao Naga house. There will also be a live music and DJ session on December 15 from 5:00 pm onwards.
Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry, President, Tsukti Longkumer will be the special guest for the inaugural of Ongjinaro Festival on December 14 at 10:30 am.
