Dimapur, Sep. 24 (EMN): The Lotha Students’ Union organised the 2nd cultural and literacy festival in collaboration with the district administration-MSK Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the Wokha District Legal Services Authority on September 23 in the town hall of Wokha.
The event, themed on the objective of “shaping the future together through culture and identity,” had joint director for agriculture N Jacob Yanthan as the guest of honour, and the director of School Education Wonthungo Tsopoe as the special guest, updates stated.
The government publicity agency the department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) issued updates on Sep. 24 informing about the festival.
Wonthungo Tsopoe lauded the union for initiating the event to encourage and remind the youngsters about the community’s traditions and customs. He called the event commendable, and hoped that it would contribute to preserving the community’s culture and identity. The IPR reported that he emphasised to the people the importance and use of ‘traditional attires and ornaments’ used by Naga forefathers based on social status.
“Encouraging the students of becoming a successful person in whatever field they take up he urged them to be obedient and hardworking because there is no shortcut to success and called upon them to spend and give more time to their studies rather than wasting time on leisure so that they become responsible contributors to the society,” the IPR added.
N Jacob Yanthan also addressed the event. He urged the students to learn the values of traditions and called upon them to carry forward the practices in safeguarding their culture, pride and keep the practices alive, the IPR stated.
A secretary of the department of Justice and Law, Nino Iralu, also called upon the students to be serious and hardworking so that they become responsible embers of the society.
Iralu highlighted the activities of the legal services authority and the services the agency provides for the benefit of the common people. She urged them to aim high to become assets for the society, the IPR stated
Further, subdivision officer (civil) for Wokha Ajit Kumar Verma, expressed hope that the participants would get the opportunity to learn more about the great values of their ancestral practices.
Verma said that the role of culture was not limited to organising and celebrating festivals, but the beauty and magic of the land.
Culture is the communication skills that the Naga people have inherited through their culture and religion, the officer stated. He urged the younger generation to treasure it and carry forward the great legacy their ancestors have left for them, the IPR quoted the officer as having said.
Verma requested the students not to waste time but set goals and work on achieving them, the updates stated.
Some of the highlights of the event included spelling and recitation, folk music and a cultural show; basket-making, weaving and knitting, and painting; and debate, and an extempore speech competition and an essay writing session, the IPR reported.
