Morung Express News
Mokokchung | May 3
Rituals and festivity apart, Moatsü is also a time when one makes new friends and builds new ties. Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Mokokchung celebrated Moatsü today at the Town Hall, Mokokchung with Mongsenyimti and Merangkong Senso unions of Mokokchung as ‘Moatsü aener’ guests.
Elders from the three villages exchanged Moatsü tidings to each other as part of the celebration and encouraged the youngsters of the three villages to uphold the unity shared between the three. It is said that Mongsenyimti descended from Aotemolung Longmiasang, as Mopungchuket was known then, while Merangkong later descended from Mongsenyimti. An in-law of Mopungchuket, T. Imtiwapang Aier, ADC Mangkolemba exhorted the gathering and appreciated the hosts for organizing the festival in a unique manner.
Apart from preserving one’s culture, he said, preserving the natural ecology was equally important. He also exhorted the youngsters to uphold the traditional Ao values like “unity, responsibility and respect.”
Ao Temolungtsür Telongjem Mokokchung presented a special ‘Elangtsür’ folk song while MALT Mokokchung presented a ‘Moatsü Naklu’ song. Significance of Moatsü was narrated by M. Akang Ozüküm. Mopungchuket, Mongsenyimti and Merangkong unions’ cultural troupes presented their respective trademark folk dances while Mopungchuket Reongsanger Putu performed a ‘Kimak Ken.’ Tazülenden Cultural Society Mopungchuket also presented a special ‘Talubi’ folk dance. Another special highlight of the day’s celebration was the observance of the traditional ‘Yi Tsüngden’, where youngsters were grouped into their respective ‘Zünga’ age groups. Five ‘Zünga’ groups were instituted today comprising of both boys and girls.
