EMN
Dimapur, May 2
The month of May is sunny yet again with Moatsu. The Moatsü festival, one of the premier cultural festivals of the Ao Naga, is being celebrated by the community across Nagaland. Moatsü is celebrated during the first week of May every year, to mark the completion of sowing. Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang greeted the Ao community during the occasion. In his message to the people on Saturday, the chief minister expressed ‘best wishes’ to the community as they mark the completion of the sowing season with community celebrations.
A message from the media cell of the chief minister’s office on May 2 said that Zeliang “hoped that the festive occasion will not only be a time of feasting, singing and merry-making but, celebrating in its true spirit and spreading the message of peace, love and goodwill among the Naga people”.
Elsewhere in the state, Moatsü festival was celebrated in Anungsa, Akhoya village.
The event for the area was organized by a local community organization, Akhoya Kosasanger Lanur, on May 1.
The chief guest of the event was Block Development Officer Ato Imsong.
Addressing the people gathered for the occasion, Imsong expressed gratitude to the organizers for ‘giving him the privilege to be the chief guest’.
He encouraged the youth not to forget their cultural identity. He advised the youth to preserve the culture, traditions, and cultural community activities ‘which we inherited from our forefathers’.
Short speeches were also delivered by leaders of various community organizations during the event.
Our Correspondent adds
Mokokchung village celebrated Moatsü, a festival to seek divine blessings for good harvest and wellbeing of villagers. The village celebrated the event with gaiety and pomp on Saturday. The event for the village was organized by a local group, Aosungkum Cultural Club, and sponsored by another organization, Riongsanger Putu Meden, in Club Complex Taokyimdong.
The executive engineer of the Public Works department of Mokokchung, Chubatoshi, was the chief guest. In his speech, Chubatoshi appealed the people to “come together, join hand and work together toward a common goal to reinvent (the legends) of Mokokchung.” He said that the name ‘Mokokchung’ itself was special and unique for the Ao Naga people. The special name comes with bigger responsibilities to shoulder, he said.
While expressing regrets that ‘couldn’t learn much’ about the rich cultural traditions of his forefathers when he was student, due his pursuing a career, the bureaucrat encouraged the younger generations to learn about their cultural values. Dance, music, and a community feast marked the celebration.
