DIMAPUR — The Ao community of Delhi celebrated Moatsu festival on May 6 at Vasundra Vatika Lawns, Delhi Cantonment.
Distinct from the previous years’ celebration, this year’s celebration, organised by the Delhi Ao Senso Telongjem (DAST), was entirely based on the ancestral village practice of celebration, an update stated.
The objective of the celebration was to conserve the traditions and customs of the Ao Naga culture and to impart to the younger generation the authentic practices of Ao culture.
“Thus, the whole event was hands-on and involvement of all age groups of the community including the in-laws and well wishers,” it stated.
The celebration started with the demonstration of traditional method of fire-making followed by traditional folk songs and dances. The event also witnessed special cultural dance by the Ao youth of Kishangarh, folk song by the Ao members of Nagaland Armed Police, Delhi, folk song and dance by Delhi Ao women and special song by Ao Naga Choir.
Clinical and hands-on sessions to transmit cultural and heritage values to young children were also conducted, where all Ao children including those from in-laws side were benefited.
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Besides the traditional sessions, volleyball league matches were played between various elder groups.
The president, DAST, in his welcome address narrated the rationale of the festival and stated, “We celebrate Maotsu festival post Christianity to seek the blessings of the Almighty God.” The event concluded with a traditional Ao Naga feast joined in by about 500 people.
