EMN
Dimapur, December 3
Musical events from concert and musicals to dance and cooking competition – and many other ‘unaccounted’ programs marked Tuesday in Kohima. Eastern Mirror brings you some of the highlights of the festivities as well as updates for the later programs.
Consul General France, Fabrice Ethiene was the honored guest of the third day of the Hornbill festival as well as the state’s coinciding celebrations of 50 years of statehood held in the Naga Heritage complex.
Altogether nine cultural troupes presented to the visitors, a glimpse into the rich cultural songs, dances and traditions of the tribes of Nagaland. Cultural troupes of the day were Western Angami cultural troupe, Longsalong cultural club, Garo cultural society, Noksen village cultural society, Phusachodu village cultural troupe, Pathso village cultural club, Angphang dancing group and Kuki cultural troupe of Bungsang.
The performance of Angphang dancing group depicting headhunting activities of the ancient Nagas was a real treat to the tourists who had gathered to take part in the festivities. In the afternoon programme, Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court AM Sapre and Judge of Guwahati High Court AK Goswami were the honored guests.
WWII veteran’s daughter visits scene of dad’s action
DIPR
KOhima december 3
Lucy Morrice from England is the daughter of British Major Alan Watts who fought in the Second World War – and in Kohima in 1944 defending Kohima against axis invaders. On her visit to Kohima during the ongoing festival, Morrice paid private tributes to the fallen allied soldiers who died defending the Japanese invasion in Kohima during the summer of 1944. In the heart of Kohima town is the 11 world war cemetery marking the places where the allied soldiers fell.
The visiting Morrice expressed delight and appreciated the well-maintained cemetery, commenting that it was fitting prelude given to those who gave up their lives for a noble cause, so far away from home. Speaking exclusively to DIPR, Lucy Morrice narrated that her father Major Alan Watts from the Dorset Regiment was seriously wounded during the Second World War and was evacuated to Kolkata.
“My father was badly wounded but spared yet many of his friends laid down their lives during the War in this very place,” she said. Holding a beautiful wooden cross with the words inscribed as –Major Alan Watts from Dorset Regiment, badly wounded but spared – In remembrance of his fellow soldiers and friends who lay here to rest after, Lucy placed the cross in the graves of her Late Father’s (expired in 1982) friends.
The KohimaWarCemetery was built in remembrance of the British and Indian soldiers who gave up their lives during the Second World War against the Japanese. The WarCemetery in Kohima is still maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The cemetery is home to as many as 1,420 graves. Lucy and her husband Dr. Chris Clayton – Payne who is currently in the State Capital expressed their love for the people of Nagaland for their love and their warm hospitability and cheerfulness. The couple, who also attended the inaugural function of Hornbill Festival cum 50th Statehood anniversary celebration, said that they were fascinated by the rich culture of the colorful people of Nagaland. They further expressed their desire to visit Nagaland again in 2015 with more family members and friends.
