Chang community celebrates ‘Puanglum’ festival in Tuensang

Dimapur, Jan. 12 (EMN): The Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS), apex organisation of the Chang Naga community, celebrated the ‘Puanglum-cum-mini Hornbill festival 2021’ at Loyem Memorial Ground in Tuensang tonw on January 12.

The deputy commissioner of Tuensang, Kumar Ramnikant, and the president of Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC), M Thangou, were the festival patron and tribal guest respectively. A DIPR report stated that the festival was celebrated on the theme “Qui Qui” which means highly exalted.

It added that the heralding of the Puanglum festivity was proclaimed by S Chingmak, 2nd GB of P Khel from Tuensang village.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC stated that the festival is a good opportunity for fostering brotherhood between the neighbours and within the community. He has described Tuensang district as a mother from where other districts were borne. In this regards, he urged the residents of Tuensang district to lead the other nascent districts in every field with good values.

“Forget and forgive should be our theme while celebrating the festival,” he added.

Stating that Chang and Khaimniungan communities were like brother since time immemorial, the tribal guest, M Thangou, encouraged the younger generation to abstain from abusive substances and strive hard towards achieving progress at par with other districts.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Tuensang superintendent of police Bharat Lakshman Markad encouraged the people to be productive, while the CKS president, Nungsang Lemba, encouraged the gathering to foster peace with the neighbours to enable progress in the district.

On the occasion, the CKS’s first Chang Puanglum Qui Qui award was conferred to Neiphiu Rio, the chief minister of Nagaland, in recognition of his vision in promoting Naga culture and tradition through the Hornbill Festivals and for making Naga festivals made known to the international community.

CKS also awarded its Qui Qui award to Kumar Ramnikant for rendering public service of highest quality and for earnestly striving towards containing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the district. Khaimniungan Tribal Council (KTC) was also awarded for achieving Noklak as a district thereby fulfilling the aspirations of the Khiamniungan community.