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Special Guest, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton inaugurating the Tsungremmong Mini Hornbill stalls at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on Aug. 1.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Aug. 1 (EMN): The Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland Y Patton on Wednesday asserted that Mini Hornbill should not be viewed as a waste of time, energy and resources but rather it is a visionary decision taken by the PDA Government to encourage people’s participation during the premier festivals of different Naga tribes.
Patton was addressing the inaugural programme of the Tsungremmong Hornbill Festival Mokokchung 2018 as the special guest at Imkongmeren Sports Complex here. Mokokchung district is among the first beneficiaries from the Mini Hornbill Festival, a decision which was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on last April 16.
The Deputy Chief Minister disclosed that the PDA Government ‘s decision to organise the Mini Hornbill festival coinciding with major festivals of the Naga tribes was targeted to give a boost to tourism in all the districts and some sub-divisions where the Naga tribes are concentrated.
“This is to give equal opportunity to all the Naga tribes to promote local entrepreneurs, showcasing of the beautiful and rich cultural heritage of the respective tribes,” Patton said.
He also said that that Mini hornbill festival will also help in harnessing brotherhood among the neighbouring districts and other states and also give an opportunity to display their rich cultural heritage. “Promoting music and sports, handicraft etc. are an important part of the festivals,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also lauded the Ao community for giving the Nagas a strong leadership both in religion, political and social life. “Aos have contributed well enough to lead the Nagas toward progress, development, unity and harmonious co-existence,” he asserted.
Nevertheless, Patton also lauded the Ao Students’ Conference for setting a benchmark in the Naga society by initiating “Survival Mokokchung”- a movement where illegal immigrants were flushed out from Mokokchung and the local youths, men and women have taken up their works today. “A movement like Survival Mokokchung should be emulated in every district,” he commented.
However, he warned that the Assam Government has just released its National; Register of Citizen and there is a high apprehension of infiltration of illegal immigrants in the neighbouring State.
He further added that the state government has put on high alert at all entry points from neighbouring Assam to check influx of illegal immigrants.
In this connection, Patton called upon the citizen of the state especially those districts neighbouring to Assam to co-operate with the Government to check the influx of illegal immigrants.
“The Government alone cannot put a complete check on this unless there is strong support from the public. In this where the call for the same zeal and initiative taken during Survival Mokokchung become pertinent,” Patton asserted.
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Deputy Chief Minister also declared the Tsungremmong Hornbill Festival Mokokchung 2018 opened and inaugurated the Tsungremmong stalls. Patton was accompanied by his cabinet colleagues, Advisors and DIG Nagaland. Earlier, Minister Temjen Imna Along pronounced the Tsungremmong greeting and welcome address was delivered by the Watsu Mungdang president.
Even though the inclement weather played spoilsports to disturb the festival mood, the day’s activities like cultural dance, inter-school barefoot football, inter-ward Tug of war, indigenous games went on full swing as schedule.
Meanwhile, an evening of Ao traditional and modern tunes competition was also organized by Mokokchung District Arts & Culture Council (MDACC) to celebrate the rich cultural legacy as part of the Tsungremmong Mini Hornbill Festival at Imkongmeren Sports Complex.
The competition was divided into two segments Modern Ao Contemporary solo and Omesang (A traditional Echoing tune sang between Lovers).
In the Ao Contemporary solo event, Arnungla was adjudged as the winner. She was accompanied by Putikokla and Linuknaro as the first and second runner-ups respectively. In the Omesang competition, the couple Temsukakba & Tiajungla was declared as the winner, while the couple Temsuzulu & Imlikokla bagged the first runner-up title and Opangsunep & Temsulila received the second runner-up title.