BENREU (PEREN), NOV 4 (NDTV): After a break of 56 years, a Naga village last week revived the centuries old tradition of gate pulling as their own way of getting on the world tourist map.
Sixty young men from Benrue village in Nagaland’s Peren district carved out of a single tree trunk, a massive gate, which will be placed at the entrance of the village, is symbolic.
It represents security not only for the villagers but any visitor who seeks shelter in the village.
The Mt Pauna Tourist centre is named after the third highest mountain in Nagaland located in this area.
Benreu village, which has just been declared a tourist centre, found no better way to mark the occasion.
“We are now making the community manage this infrastructure. We cut down on overhead expenses and at the same time bring out the best in the community and provide training. The idea is to get them to become confident to manage this kind of a resort,” said Khekiye Sema, Tourism Commissioner.
Uphold rituals
Benreu’s villagers have realized that their future lies in the past, though most of them are Christians, the religious tradition of animism is being kept alive for the tourists to come and see.
“The village has decided that it will uphold the beliefs and rituals observed by the non-believers in major affairs of the village for as long as even one person continues to practice the old way,” said Ngiambe, a villager.
Despite efforts, tourism hasn’t really taken off in Nagaland. Last year, domestic and foreign tourists totaled a paltry 3000. But all of them gave rural tourism the thumbs up after visiting three village tourist centres promoted by the Nagaland government in the last few years. Benreu is the fourth village dedicated to rural tourism and is confident it will cash in on the tourist boom, but whenever it comes.
The gate will be put in its righful place in a few days and any visitor who passes through these gates becomes the honored guest and responsibility of the entire village.
It is this factor that the government of Nagaland is banking upon to promote tourism in Nagaland.
