Children open the day’s festivities at the Moatsü celebration organised by DACST, at the State Stadium in Dimapur on May 3. (Morung Photo)
A time to build cross-tribal relationships
DIMAPUR, MAY 3 (MExN): It has almost become a tradition of witnessing Naga festivals where the host tribe does all the dancing and the singing for the delight of guests. This year’s Moatsü celebration in Dimapur hosted by Dimapur Area Chuchuyimlang Senso Telongjem (DACST) creatively wove together a cultural fusion with performers from different Ao villages, as well as cultural troupes from other Naga tribes in the day-long event.
Chuchuyimlang is a scenic village situated in the Langpangkong range of Mokokchung, Nagaland. Written on the back of the programme menu listing the day’s festivities were these words, which summed up the purpose of the celebration. “The Moatsü festival based on community bonding is celebrated here (Chuchuyimlang village) from the first of May. During this period, the village rekindles its ancestral friendship and diplomatic relationship by inviting the neighbouring villages which includes other tribes. Keeping the tradition, the same celebration is organised by the Dimapur Area Chuchuyimlang Senso Telongjem...” in Dimapur.
A medley of performances dubbed ‘Moatsü Extravaganza’ was the highlight of the celebration. In this segment of the programme, Chang and Phom cultural troupes also joined in the celebration. A German woman married to a Phom Naga was also part of an all-women Phom troupe representing Yaongyimchen (Mongnyei Longkem), Dimapur.
Minister, Industries & Commerce Pangnyu Phom was the chief guest, while Parliamentary Secretary, Horticulture, Neiba Kronu and MLA Amenba Yaden were the guests of honour.
The chief guest, while extending greetings on behalf of people from the eastern part of Nagaland spoke on the importance of keeping alive one’s identity despite the changing times. Describing Chuchuyimlang as one village that is strongly rooted in tradition, he said that this strong inclination to culture has helped shape the village to what it has become today.
While stating that people are defined by their customs and traditions, he said, “Festival (of any) tribe signifies the identity of its people.” Moatsü, aside from being just a festival signifies the identity of the Ao, he said. Further stating that custom and growth go hand-in-hand, he added that a strong cultural base is what builds and defines a society and its people. “With the celebration of Moatsü, let us also try and change for the better (for) if we don’t change our mindset, celebration of any festival will be meaningless.”
Parliamentary Secretary, Kronu, whose wife hails from Chuchuyimlang, said that the significance of traditional festivals has evolved from simply being celebrations to please ‘gods of nature’ to also building relations between people and importantly, “invoking the Almighty’s blessing” in today’s context.
