Celebrate Tuluni oneness and brotherhood every day, says Hekani Jakhalu

Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 8 (EMN): The oneness and brotherhood that Tuluni brings among the community should be celebrated in everyday life and not just during the celebration of the festival, said Hekani Jakhalu Kense, the founder of YouthNet.

She was addressing the crowd that had gathered to celebrate Tuluni festival at Lhothavi village on Friday.

Lamenting the divisions in the Naga society, Kense said ‘there is no peace of mind as there is division everywhere- division in the villages and churches and in the name of politics and national workers’.

The chief guest of the event also stated that there has been much talk about unity, but no visible action is being taken. He lauded the Lhothavi Village Council for celebrating Tuluni festival with other villages, setting an example of unity and friendship among neighbours.

Let this celebration among the villages be an example for the Nagas to unite and move forward towards betterment and prosperity, she said.

Also speaking at the event, SDO (civil) of Dhansiripar, Berimong Chang said that Nagas do not have a written record of their traditions but passed down orally, and so they promote and preserve their culture and identity through festivals.

Chang said that “Tuluni” is the soul of the community (Sumi), and hence the people must not fail to shoulder the responsibility of passing on their tradition to the younger generations despite all difficulties and the influence of the West.

While maintaining that the Sumi community is known for its generosity, openness, fearlessness and hospitality, the SDO also urged the gathering to protect and preserve the environment and wildlife.

Head GB Khetoho Tsuqu delivered the welcome address. The programme was also marked by various cultural items like folk dance, folk song, top spinning competition, fire making, cock fight, tug of war and yodeling.