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Phek village cultural troupe performing during the Sükrünye Mini Hornbill festival in Phek Town on Jan. 17 (left); Chizami village weavers demonstrating cotton spanning skills.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Phek, Jan. 17 (EMN): The Sükrünye Mini Hornbill festival entered its third and final day on Thursday, Jan. 17. Held at Phek town local ground, the premier festival of the Chakhesang Nagas witnessed several activities, including Naga wrestling, cotton spinning, earthen pot-making, and nettle shawl weaving.
MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu, who graced the final day of the festival as the guest of honour, stressed on improvising things saying that “the world is about improvisation.” He said that Sükrünye festival is a time to “sanctify and purify ourselves and celebrate the joyous moments.”
Expressing dismay over the usage of the word “Mini Hornbill” in the festival, Nienu said that it is going to “camouflage the true meaning of all the tribal festivals,” be it Tokhu Emong, Sükrünye or others. He went on to say that the true meaning of traditional festivals in the state will be “forgotten” down the line.
If people are to promote the festivals, it must be promoted by their “true nomenclature” and not otherwise, he said. The word “Mini Hornbill” should be “done away with” for the district festivals to preserve the originality, he added.
Nienu spoke about the importance of cultural continuity and felt that “identity crisis and loss of identity” is one danger that the people will face. People in the West have lost the identity because they did not carry what was passed on to them, he claimed, adding “My biggest worry is that the same thing is going to happen in our Naga society.”
Nienu also spoke on the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
“We can’t become second class citizens in our own land. We can’t allow some foreigners to come and control/rule us. I can’t allow that to happen to my people during my leadership,” he said. Also objecting to Section 377 of the IPC that decriminalises consensual gay sex and marriage, he said that the people must raise their voice against it as it is ‘contemptuous according to Christian principles.’
He thanked the organising committee for conducting a “very successful” Sükrünye festival.
President of the Chakhesang Youth Front, Lhuvesayi Lohe urged the gathering to remember the good traits of the forefathers and live like them.
The event witnessed “Uwhe” (Khuzhale for War cry) from Leshemi village children and performance from Phek village cultural troupe. Deputy Commissioner of Phek Orenthung Lotha was the valedictory guest.
