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Governor PB Acharya and his wife Kavita Acharya lighting the lamp on the occasion of Holi Milan at Kohima on March 2. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, Mar. 2 (EMN): The governor of Nagaland has urged the Hindu community with building a ‘new India’ which he said would be ‘prosperous, strong and free of communalism, “casteism” and terrorism in line with the democratic ethos of India.
The Hindu community of Kohima celebrated Holi, also ‘festival of colours,’ at the Gorkha Public Panchayat complex at Chandmari in Kohima on Fri. morning. There the members engaged in the tradition of smearing coloured powder on one another.
Addressing the programme, which was organised by the Hindu Samaj of Kohima, the governor of Nagaland PB Acharya said unity in diversity was a peculiarity of India, a democratic and secular country that respect the diversity of its people. The colourful festival strengthens fraternity and ‘togetherness’ among the people and spreads peace and prosperity in the society, Acharya said. He urged the Hindu community in Nagaland to work for unity and development of the entire state. The prosperity of Nagaland will ‘surely reflect in the prosperity of the nation,’ he said.
The governor talked about the significance of ‘building a new India’ which he said would be ‘prosperous, strong and free of communalism, “casteism” and terrorism. He asserted that one should be proud to be known and called an Indian.
Highlighting the significance of Holi, VK Jha said Holi signifies the victory of good over evil, and to ‘ forgive and forget’ and mend broken relationships.
On the joyous occasion, he emphasised that the vices of terrorism, naxalism and fundamentalism –divisive forces of society—should be discouraged by one and all. Jha called upon fellowmen to consider the festival the beginning of a new life for them ‘with new colours and new thinking for the betterment of the state and the nation as a whole.’
The programme saw also the attendance of Nagaland’s Director General of Police Rupin Sharma, and additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Ved Pal Singh, among others.
Earlier in the day, PB Acharya and wife Kavita Acharya celebrated the festival with the officers and staff of the Raj Bhavan secretariat and their families at the Raj Bhavan in Kohima.
The governor and his wife greeted them and had breakfast with all those assembled for the occasion. They interacted with the children, families and staff and took pictures with them. They wished the staff and their families’ good health and happiness in the future.
