Men folk accords a warm traditional welcome upon the arrival of State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at Khar village to celebrate Moatsu Festival on May 2. (Caisii Mao/Photo)
Khar | May 2 : A foggy morning weather and growing uncertainty over the visit of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to celebrate Moatsü – the premier festival of the Ao Nagas – finally cleared up; and the chief guest escorted by two of his cabinet colleagues and others did not disappoint the Khar villagers, who came from different parts of the state to celebrate Moatsü.
The chief minister arrived from Longkhum by a chopper at 1:30 pm, and thereafter the programme started off with hundreds of people young and old, clad in traditional dresses thronged the venue – Imrongmen Lethi – where the formal programme was held. The celebration was actually supposed to start off from 12:00 noon, but due to unavoidable circumstances it started one and half hour late.
Former director of Geology and Mining Department, SH Walling, while delivering the vote of thanks said that Rio is the third among the Nagaland Chief Ministers to visit the Khar village, which lies in the Chngkikong Range, approximately fifty kilometers away from Mokokchung town. The first chief minister to visit Khar was P Shilu Ao (first chief minister of Nagaland) who visited during the 1960’s; the second was SC Jamir who visited in 1983; and after twenty eight years, Rio is the third CM to visit Khar.
Khar villagers, in their own part, conveyed a verbal message to the chief minister and DAN Government, that the citizens of Khar village will always support Neiphiu Rio and be wherever the DAN Government is. Khar Village Council chairman, Imtinungba termed the words of support as a prize to the chief minister and DAN Government. Besides, a special song in honour of Rio and his entourage was presented by the Khar Shilu Machalar Jubang.
All the way from the Khar public Ground till the main venue, various age groups of the village and unions, in full traditional gears, welcome the chief guest and his entourage with full traditional honour.
Rio, while conveying warm Moatsü greetings to the villagers, asserted that cultural festivals should be celebrated to protect the Naga identity.
Acknowledging the unity of the Khar villagers, Rio said that if the Naga people remain united then we can move forward to the future as one people. Besides, terming Moatsu as a festival of hope, a festival of unity, Rio asserted that the Nagas as a people should be emotionally, socially, economically and economically integrated. “Nagas are one, and we have only one future,” Rio asserted. However, he regretted that the Nagas, especially in the towns are forgetting the ways of our forefathers of celebrating festivals after sweating in the fields; in this regard, he said that if we celebrate festivals without working hard in the fields or offices, then there would be no blessings at all.
It may be noted here that Moatsü is the premier festival of the Aos which signifies the people seeking for blessings after the sowing season. Moatsü is celebrated with much fun and fevour throughout the Ao areas since from the days of the Ao forefathers. The Moatsü which used to be celebrated for six days in the past is now celebrated for only three days starting from May 1. However, this year Moatsü festival will be celebrated till May 4, 2011 since May 1 happened to be a Sunday.
The chief minister arrived from Longkhum by a chopper at 1:30 pm, and thereafter the programme started off with hundreds of people young and old, clad in traditional dresses thronged the venue – Imrongmen Lethi – where the formal programme was held. The celebration was actually supposed to start off from 12:00 noon, but due to unavoidable circumstances it started one and half hour late.
Former director of Geology and Mining Department, SH Walling, while delivering the vote of thanks said that Rio is the third among the Nagaland Chief Ministers to visit the Khar village, which lies in the Chngkikong Range, approximately fifty kilometers away from Mokokchung town. The first chief minister to visit Khar was P Shilu Ao (first chief minister of Nagaland) who visited during the 1960’s; the second was SC Jamir who visited in 1983; and after twenty eight years, Rio is the third CM to visit Khar.
Khar villagers, in their own part, conveyed a verbal message to the chief minister and DAN Government, that the citizens of Khar village will always support Neiphiu Rio and be wherever the DAN Government is. Khar Village Council chairman, Imtinungba termed the words of support as a prize to the chief minister and DAN Government. Besides, a special song in honour of Rio and his entourage was presented by the Khar Shilu Machalar Jubang.
All the way from the Khar public Ground till the main venue, various age groups of the village and unions, in full traditional gears, welcome the chief guest and his entourage with full traditional honour.
Rio, while conveying warm Moatsü greetings to the villagers, asserted that cultural festivals should be celebrated to protect the Naga identity.
Acknowledging the unity of the Khar villagers, Rio said that if the Naga people remain united then we can move forward to the future as one people. Besides, terming Moatsu as a festival of hope, a festival of unity, Rio asserted that the Nagas as a people should be emotionally, socially, economically and economically integrated. “Nagas are one, and we have only one future,” Rio asserted. However, he regretted that the Nagas, especially in the towns are forgetting the ways of our forefathers of celebrating festivals after sweating in the fields; in this regard, he said that if we celebrate festivals without working hard in the fields or offices, then there would be no blessings at all.
It may be noted here that Moatsü is the premier festival of the Aos which signifies the people seeking for blessings after the sowing season. Moatsü is celebrated with much fun and fevour throughout the Ao areas since from the days of the Ao forefathers. The Moatsü which used to be celebrated for six days in the past is now celebrated for only three days starting from May 1. However, this year Moatsü festival will be celebrated till May 4, 2011 since May 1 happened to be a Sunday.
