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Community members dance during the Aoleang festivities, on April 4 at the Solidarity Park in Kohima.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 4 (EMN): The Konyak community in capital town Kohima celebrated the Aoleang festival, on April 4 at the Solidarity Park in Kohima.
The festival is celebrated by the Konyak Naga in the first week of April, in hope for good harvest, and celebrating the arrival of spring.
The principal secretary to the chief minister Lhoubeilatuo Kire was the ‘special guest’ during the function. In his address, Kire said that the many festivals being celebrated by the Nagas are directly or indirectly linked to the land and field. Aoleang is one such, which is celebrated after seed-sowing, and to invoking God’s blessing, he said.
Kire lauded the community for their special respect for Konyak women married outside the community, and to those from outside communities who married Konyak men. He said that other communities must emulate such practices.
Further, the secretary said that one should be proud of culture in the form of music, dance and food. He urged the people to preserve the culture and traditions, which he said in turn will ‘attract tourists.’
Further, Kire encouraged the community to ‘preserve the good traits’ of their forefathers, such as respecting elders; honesty; hard work etc. He urged the people to take a pledge through this festival to bring unity of the various Nagas tribes and to march forward.
In line with the government’s campaign to make Nagaland a plastic-free state, the festival was a plastic-free function. Alternatives to plastic grocery were used, such as including bamboo plates and cups, and leaves etc.
Additional secretary to the government of Nagaland, Honje Konyak also addressed the event. He spoke about the significance of the festival. He said Aoleang festival celebrates the presence of Wangwan, the blessings of the divine spirit. The festival is marked by singing, dancing, and feasts, he added.
Various community cultural troupes danced during the event.