MCCI President Tsukti Longkumer addressing the inaugural of first Ongjinaro Festival at Sungkotenem Park in Mopungchuket village, Mokokchung on December 14. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | December 14
The Mopungchuket Community Tourism Society (MCTS) launched the first Ongjinaro Festival at Sungkotenem Park in Mopungchuket village, Mokokchung on Thursday.
Delivering the welcome address, MCTS Convenor, Limalenden Longkumer stated that the Ongjinaro Festival was founded with the intention of turning it into a festival that will not only enhance tourism in Mopungchuket village but also benefit Nagaland tourism. He also mentioned that MCTS will look for ways to research the economic and medicinal worth of the Ongjinaro in order to generate a living out of it.
In an earlier press note, the MCTS has stated that ‘Ongjinaro’ (Sarcandra glabra) plant is endemic to Mopungchuket village and has been used as a Christmas decoration item for many decades, so much so that people have adopted calling it ‘local holly.’ The villagers have been marketing the plant every Christmas season, not only in Mokokchung but also in Kohima, Dimapur, and elsewhere. The society envisions collaborating with government agencies or interested entities to study and propagate Ongjinaro as a commercial crop. It is a shade-loving ornamental plant that requires minimal input for mass propagation and thrives in backwoods homesteads. Further, it has invited biologists and biotech experts to study the plant for its prospective medicinal values.
Earlier, during the inaugural programme, the guest of honour, Tsukti Longkumer, President, Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in his speech mentioned that the tourism industry is the fastest growing industry, “three times bigger and faster than automobile industry.” In a time when tourism is booming all over the world, he questioned about how MCTS is prepared in this sector.
He stated that foreigners are not the only tourists in our land but local and domestic visitors are also tourists who are eager to explore and discover. He therefore, encouraged MCTS to find ways to attract local and domestic tourists alike.
He further urged the villagers to identify the distinctiveness of the village and to maintain originality since tourists are interested in the original art and designs and to further promote community tourism by harnessing the resources available in the village itself.
Mopungchuket Village Council also brought greetings at the festival. The highlights of the festival include authentic Ao Naga cuisine, natural and dried flowers including the Ongjinaro flower, handloom, handicraft, jewellry, kids plat zone, bonfire and music, and walk through the beautiful Ongjinaro groves. The two-day festival will conclude with a musical show and entertainment events on December 15.
