Lotha community celebrate ‘Tokhu Emong’a thanksgiving festival for bountiful harvest across State
Staff Reporter
Dimapur, November 7
State Home Minister, Y. Patton Friday said that the Centre has not taken up any national project since the state got statehood. However, he expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would announce some national projects in the State during his visit to the capital next month.Patton said this while speaking as chief host at the Tokhu Emong, the premier festivals of the Lothas at State Indoor Stadium. He said that during Modi’s visit the foothill road was also likely to be named as national project.
On the occasion, the home minister also announced that the State government has approved to give two days restricted holiday to the Lothas during Tokhu Emong.
On the oil issue in Wokha district, Patton said that earlier on trial basis State government awarded the contract to ONGC and the company took away 1.5m tones while the land owners received only Rs 64 lakh. However, he said that under the new modalities and work plan, out of the 1.5 m tons, the landowners would get Rs 329 crore. He urged the Lothas to think deeply on this issue. He also urged the mammoth gathering to settle the issue on Lotha and Kyong at the earliest.
On the Ralan area issue, Patton said that it was not a border issue and that the government was working to bring a peace in the area. He said the government has also taken steps to remove check gate at Yimpha village at Ralan. He also said additional IR forces have been deployed at the Ralan to maintain peace.
On the occasion, Patton said Tokhu is the time to forget and forgive the past misdeeds. He urged the people to bury the past mistakes through this occasion and move forward in the spirit of oneness. He also urged for forgiveness for any of his misdeeds in the name of Tokhu.
Diphupar: Meanwhile, the Diphupar Lotha Hoho celebrated ‘Tokhu Emong’ with great joy and colours along with the various non-Lotha tribes who joined the celebration.
Parliamentary Secretary Justice and Law Jacob Zhimomi was the chief guest of the celebration.
Emphasizing on the ‘rich cultural heritage’ of the Nagas, Jacob Zhimomi encouraged the gathering to keep the old tradition and culture dynamic and vibrant, the practices that are bestowed by ancestors.
Zhimomi said that academic performances of the youth are like the post-harvest as Nagas today have gone astray from cultivation.
He opined that the work culture of the Nagas is no longer existent and that Nagas today are living with no system and with no discipline. He said, “We have to change and know how we should move ahead.”
During the festival, the parliamentary secretary encouraged the gathering to stay united and rise above clanism by leading all the other tribes towards a better tomorrow.
During the festival, elders above 80 years of age were also rewarded.
The festival was enchanted by various cultural folk songs, dances and cultural displays.
Along with the rest of the Lotha community, the Lotha Union Purana Bazaar Area (LUPBA) also celebrated its 21st Tokhu Emong festival at Naharbari Village Sports Complex with participation from various colonies under East Dimapur.
The festival was marked with various traditional performances and competitions including folk song singing competition by women and tug of war. In the women folk song competition, Naharbari village bagged the 1st position, Padumpukhuri 2nd, Mount View Colony 3rd and Model Colony and Purana Bazaar ‘B’ jointly bagged 4th position. Lotha GBs and elders also exhibited traditional fire making.
GB Ntonsi spoke on the significance of Tokhu at the programme which was chaired by LUPBU Chairman, Zaremo Kikon.
