Winners of cultural competition with Guest of Honour Minister Metsubo Jamir
Mokokchung, July 31 (MExN): The four-day Tsüngremmung Festival 2026 commenced with a cultural competition at the community hall, Longsa Village on July 31 evening, organised by the Longsa Village Council under the Department of Tourism, Government of Nagaland.
Nagaland Minister for Rural Development & SIRD, Metsübo Jamir, who graced the inaugural programme as the guest of honour, stressed the importance of preserving the originality and authenticity of Longsa’s cultural heritage, asserting that the village’s culture is “one and indivisible” and urging the people not to alter or differentiate their traditional identity.
Referring to the village’s unique cultural legacy, Jamir emphasised that traditional attire, customs and practices should not be modified to suit changing trends but must be preserved in their original form for future generations, adding that the Longsa dialect and cultural heritage are invaluable assets that must be safeguarded.
The highlight of the inaugural programme was the Cultural Competition featuring two traditional events, Wadang Ken for ladies and Lidem Meyu for men which witnessed enthusiastic participation from the village’s four khels along with the Mokokchung Unit, with five teams competing in each category.
In the Wadang Ken competition, Lion’s Club emerged as the champion while the Mokokchung Unit secured the runners-up position, whereas in the Lidem Meyu event, Eagle Club claimed the top honours with Lion’s Club finishing as runners-up, with winners and runners-up presented cash prizes in recognition of their performances.
The inaugural programme also featured a performance of Ku Kongki (traditional cup violin) by Alemyongba, followed by the prize distribution ceremony, while the vote of thanks was delivered by Jongpongtemshi Tatar.
The Tsüngremmung Festival 2026 will continue at Longsa Village until August 3, featuring a series of cultural and traditional events celebrating the village’s heritage, with the winners of both categories set to represent their respective events during the main festival celebration on Saturday.
