Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 16: Yimchunger Union Dimapur (YUD) has celebrated their post harvest festival ‘Tsungkamneo’ at the DDSC stadium, Dimapur, on January 16.
Deputy commissioner, Dimapur, and special guest of the celebrations, Kevekha Nevin Zehol, has lauded the union for ‘wonderfully’ organising the whole programme. He also appreciated the other guest speakers for speaking greatly of the Yimchungrü people even though all speakers were not of the Yimchunger tribe.
“You can only talk about the people when you know the people properly,” Zehol made known.
He encouraged all to be preservers, conservers, protectors and facilitators.
Citing the example of Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary in Kiphire district, he encouraged the tribe to preserve the flora and fauna and to feel a sense of responsibility towards it.
“Preservation of our culture is also very important and we must retain the old values in the midst of modernisation,” he said.
Sapu Bhattacharyya, director of NEC, Energy Pvt. Ltd, was the guest of honour at the programme. Bhattacharyya encouraged the attendees to unite together to bring peace and move forward. Speaking about the significance of Tsungkamneo, he said that all over the world, festivals are about pre-harvest and post-harvest.
“This is a festival of peace and reconciliation where unity is strength,” he said adding that even though he had his own festival ‘Bihu’ to celebrate, he was happy to have attended the festival in Dimapur.
Hekhevi Achumi, judicial secretary of Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) spoke on how everyone’s mother tongue was vanishing. He encouraged the parents to make their children speak their mother tongue.
T Bangerloba, president of Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) said that everyone is lagging in unity. He said until and unless “we have unity, we will not get any solutions.”
“In the name of the festival I encourage everyone to reside in unity and progress peacefully,” he said.
The significance of Tsungkamneo was highlighted by R Shitopong where all the aspects and process of the festival were made known to the gathering.
Folk songs were presented by Tsunrun Cultural Club Dimapur and Khungriso Cultural Troupe Dimapur.
