DIMAPUR, JUNE 17: Highway Area Sumi Public Organization (HASPO) has announced to host Tuluni –the premier festival of the Sumis – on July 8 next at the Agri Expo site, Dimapur.
Announcing this at a news conference here today, the organizers said: “We have come up with this initiative to showcase our rich tradition and culture, particularly for our youths brought up in cosmopolitan settings and for the older generation to reminisce the past.”
Seventeen units of HASPO, which included Sumis living within the confines of Chumukedima to Kushiabill, would be staging different cultural shows featuring traditional war dance and folk songs. This year, the organizers have also decided to ditch the practice of having a chief guest or guest of honour for such occasions.
According to the organizers, this was another way of sending out the message that “everybody is invited and would be given equal importance.” By hosting this festival, the organizers are attempting to “revive the importance of Tuluni,” which they said, has been somehow upstaged by Ahuna festival, in the context of Dimapur.
“It could be because of the weather conditions in Dimapur (Ahuna is celebrated in November). But Tuluni has been slightly sort of neglected.
“So we want to revive the importance of Tuluni, which is the premier festival of the Sumis,” the organizers said. “We extend our invitation to all Sumi’s residing in highway jurisdiction to come and be a part of the festival in traditional attires. Ample arrangements will be made to accommodate more thabn ten thousand people at the venue.”
