Ao, Lotha festival of brotherhood celebrated at Longkhum

[caption id="attachment_246607" align="aligncenter" width="565"] BRETHREN: A section of Ao and Lotha leaders from Longkhum and Okotso villages march to the venue of the Ak-su/Vukchita celebrations, on April 26 in Longkhum village in Mokokchung district.[/caption] Dimapur, April 30 (EMN): Two villages, one each from the Ao Naga and Lotha Naga tribes, recently celebrated a festival of brotherhood that is being celebrated every three years since 1963, the year Nagaland was inaugurated as a state. The festival is ‘Ak-su’ in Ao or ‘Vukchita’ in Lotha and is hosted by the villages in alternation. The celebrations this time were hosted by Longkhum village. Villagers of Longkhum village in Mokokchung village, and Okotso village in Wokha village celebrated ‘Ak-su,’ a festival that the two neighbours had been celebrating every three years. Updates from the organisers on April 30, offered details about the event. “The age old celebration of Ak-su (Ao) or Vukchita (Lotha) between Longkhum and Okotso villages, which is in practice ever since its inception in 1963, introduced by the far sighted pioneers who valued meaningful, strong, social relation and exchange of cultural values was observed at Longkhum village on April 26, 2019,” a note from the Okotso Village Council informed. The festival is celebrated between the two villages alternately every three years, the organisers stated. Okotso has expressed gratitude for Longkhum community’s hospitality during the event. ‘The wonderful gift of this Ak-su get-together was celebrated in solemn nostalgia, pomp and gaiety at Chungli khel, Longkhum village,’ the updates stated. The Okotso leaders have expressed happiness and gratitude to Sendong Jamir, Chairman, Longkhum village Council; the chairman and secretary, and Chungli khel ‘tatars’ and L Tongpang Jamir and villagers on behalf of Okotso village Council. A 29-member team of Okotso leaders including Chumdemo Ngullie, chairman of Okotso Village Council; Benthungo Murry, VDB secretary and TL Merry represented Okotso village. The next meeting will be at Okotso village, the updates informed.