Morung Express News
Zunheboto | April 21
The much awaited ‘Mélange 2016’ started today with the flagging off of the festival torch by the Zunheboto Town Youth Organization (ZTYO) convenor L. Holuto Ayemi from Zunheboto Town Council gate, Amiphoto colony and the lighting of the festival torch by Dr. Awoto Yeptho, ZTYO president at local ground, Zunheboto town.
The opening ceremony saw the welcoming of the ‘Father of the Festival’, Hovishe Arkha, who congratulated the ZTYO for their efforts in organizing such a grand festival and encouraged the youths to work for the uplift of the Sumi society in general and the Sumi youths in particular. He further took the opportunity to stress on the “segregation” prevalent in the town and said that the people should be united and no division should be made on religious grounds.
Mélange 2016 is one platform through which the people can be united and a platform where the youths will learn about their cultural heritage, he added.
The first day of the festival saw a host of cultural events, which included traditional games and sports, and the opening of the stalls. Pito Achumi, who won the first prize at the best traditional attire contest, flashed a smile when asked if he knows the value and of the various ornaments that he was displaying on him.
“I really did not know much about the traditional attires, but thanks to the contest and to Mélange 2016, I am now very much aware, Achumi said.
The various traditional games for boys and girls alike were organized with the aim of reviving the traditional and cultural heritage of the forefathers.
Other highlights of the ceremony included presentation of the festival anthem, folk song presentation by Cornerstone Higher Secondary school and war dance from Bloom Field School. Event Director, Vinoka K. Rotokha initiated the oath taking ceremony after which the father of the festival declared the festival open.
Mélange 2016 is a part of the “Awake Zunheboto” campaign of the ZTYO and it is being celebrated under the theme “Being Sumi”.
