Bishu mini Hornbill Festival calls for peace, unity

[caption id="attachment_230306" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Two Dimasa men engage in a bout of strength during an indigenous game, at the the Bishu mini Hornbill Festival of the Dimasa community, on Sunday at the Urban Haat in Dimapur.[/caption] Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Jan. 27: The advisor for Tourism, Art and Culture H Khehovi Yepthomi wants more ‘love and spreading of love’ to heal the society that refuses reconciliation. The special guest was addressing the 13th Bishu mini Hornbill Festival 2019 of the Dimasa community, on Sun. Jan. 27 at the Urban Haat in Dimapur. The legislator said that the mini Hornbill Festival was proposed by the Nagaland govt. for two reasons. First, he said, it was to promote the culture of the Naga tribes and sub-tribes. Although considered as a small state in India, Nagaland is a land of many tribes with rich cultures. This can attract tourists to the state and improve the local economy. The second reason, he said, was to impart the Nagas cultural legacy to the younger generation. According to him, elders are ‘well informed about their culture’ but there are no written records that can be passed on. For this, festivals will keep culture alive, the legislator said. Quoting Marcus Garvey’s "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots," Yepthomi remarked ‘If we lose our culture, our identity will be lost.’ The legislator asserted that every person advocates peace and unity but fails to practise it. They instead ‘wait for the Gaon Buras or a leader to take the lead.’ He urged individuals to become channels of peace. Yepthomi also mentioned that the mini Hornbill Festival was celebrated not because it was initiated and proposed by the govt. The celebration was long observed by every respective community and the Mini Hornbill Festival was introduced to maintain relations with other communities and neighbouring states, he said. Appreciating the work and patience of the Dimasa community he termed 'remarkable,' the legislator assured the community that his door was always open for them. The deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Kevekha Kevin Zehol, also addressed the event emphasising on tourism. He expressed happiness that the Nagaland govt. had come up with funds for the Mini Hornbill Festival for every community to celebrate their festivals. He urged the people to take a step further and not just depend on the govt. Festivals can be celebrated in the villages to draw tourists and boost the local economy and not just being confined to towns, he said. The Western Sumi Hoho’s Vice President Nihokhe Awomi also spoke during the event. In his address, he explained that a tribe is identified by one's language. He encouraged the people to use their own dialects. "The present generation do not understand one's culture and such festival should be encouraged among the youngsters with their participation so that they understand the importance of one's identity," Awomi said. Bishu or Bushu festival of the Dimasas was recognised as one of the festivals in Nagaland by the government of Nagaland in 2007. Till recently Bishu or Bushu did not have any date fixed, a community leader said during the programme. But due to compelling circumstances people resolved to have a date fixed for the festival, K Naben, president of the Dimasa Public Organisation of Nagaland (DPON) said in his address. The post harvest festival of the Dimasas, who are recognised as Kacharis by the state govt., was recognised on the basis of a representation by the DPON. The festival will culminate on Mon. Jan. 28 at the Urban Haat.