Loyola Higher Secondary School Kiphire celebrates cultural day

KIPHIRE — Loyola Higher Secondary School (LHSS) in Kiphire celebrated its cultural day on Friday on the theme “Embracing culture” with Moses Newmai, district cultural officer (DCO) of Kiphire, as the special guest.

Speaking at the occasion, Newmai said that the celebration was not just about showcasing traditions but about embracing our identity and fostering unity and progress among all communities. Reminding that “culture speaks about who we are and where we come from,” he encouraged the students never to forget their roots, no matter where they live or go.

He also urged everyone to be ambassadors of their cultural heritage, highlighting the virtues of their forefathers such as hardworking, sincerity and honesty. He encouraged the students to preserve and carried forward those virtues.

Newmai further called upon both students and elders to play an active role in preserving and promoting the rich cultural traditions of the region in the spirit of love, peace and unity, while respecting every culture in society.

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Delivering the vote of thanks, Fr. Phillip Magh expressed gratitude to the special guest for encouraging the preservation of culture. He also appreciated the teachers and students for their hard work and dedication and the parents for their constant guidance and support, which made the event a success.

The day featured a wide range of traditional competitions such as war cry, traditional dress display, Morung inspection among the four houses (Red, Blue, Green and Yellow), rice and maize sorting, tassel embellishment, stitching, cock fight, crab race, spear kick, dao sharpening and cutting, yarn spinning, top spinning and traditional fire-making.

Prizes were given away by the special guest and the school principal after the competitions.

The programme was chaired by Yangthsaba and Apila, while an invocation prayer was said by the school’s vice principal, Fr. Mauris. It was followed by a speech on ‘Preserving culture’ by Lumlise, the school president.

Other highlights included folktales narration by Atingla, traditional ethnic wear presentation by the primary section and a Sangtam folksong ‘Phishu Khidong’ performed by the higher secondary students.