Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 18
Special presentation by differently-abled school children on a common platform at the opening of Spring Festival 2016 at North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) Complex on Friday evening put smiles on the faces of the audience.
The event was special because the actors behind the show had different disabilities. With smiles and laughter, the endearing children performed action songs, choreography, dances and sang songs, showing that there is ability in every disability.
“I am very happy to perform here and I am confident and not afraid,” said Chatong, a student from the Deaf Biblical Ministry prior to their performance at the rehearsal.
For Avino of Tabitha Enabling Academy from Kohima, it’s her first time in Dimapur. “I am so excited, she expressed.
NEZCC Director Lipokmar Tzudir, who took the honour to introduce the differently-abled participants called for renewed appreciation of children with different abilities.
“Perhaps we see things differently, we hear things differently but…those that we brand as blind or deaf can see and hear from the heart. We have no right as human beings to judge just because we see and hear differently,” Tzudir exhorted.
Also pointing out that Dimapur is a cosmopolitan city with half of the population comprising of non-Nagas, the NEZCC director said spring is a time for renewed appreciation of the different communities residing in Nagaland and Dimapur in particular.
“We simply cannot call them as non locals, they are definitely locals of the town because many of them have been residing here for more than a century,” Tzudir maintained.
The differently –abled participants were from the Deaf Biblical Ministry Naharbari; Silverline Academy, Dimapur; St Mary Montessori, Dimapur; Tabitha Enabling Academy, Kohima; Cherry Blossoms, Kohima and Dimapur Blind School.
Friday’s presentation by the differently-abled is part of NEZCC’s endeavor to encourage better understanding of people affected by disability and help make people more aware of the rights, dignity and welfare of disabled people, especially children by providing different platforms.
The evening also highlighted the region’s rich indigenous culture through presentation of colourful tribal dance and folk music.
From the sensual Bro-Zai dance of Arunachal Pradesh; the dexterous drum dance -Dhol Cholom of Manipur to the intrepid warrior dance from Nagaland, the evening showcased the mosaic of dance and culture and the spectacular diversity of the Northeast that has merely four per cent of India’s population.
Expressing aesthetic beauty of traditional celebrations, Assam cultural troupes performed the popular and colourful Bihu dance and the Bardoishikla dance while Meghalaya presented the mirthful and gaiety Wangala dance; from Mizoram, the lively and attractive bamboo dance-Cheraw, Tamang Selo folk dance from Sikkim and the spectacular Hozagiri dance from Tripura.
The Spring Festival is aimed at showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage of the North East region. At least 400 performers from North East states as well as from other regions are part of the festival to enthrall the viewers.
Besides, the festival also has cuisine and crafts fair for visitors and competitions, play activities and competitions for children. The festival will conclude on Sunday.
