Konyak community celebrates Aoleang festival at Kisama as leaders call for unity and collective effort among Nagas
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KOHIMA — The Konyak community in Kohima celebrated Aoleang festival at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, on April 2, with speakers urging for unity.
The premier festival of the Konyak Nagas, Aoleang is celebrated from April 1 to 6 marking the arrival of spring and invoking bountiful harvest for the year.
The celebration was organised by the Konyak Union Kohima.
Achumbemo Kikon, MLA and NPF secretary general, who attended the celebration as special guest, remarked that Nagas love festival and celebrations, which also translates into the people’s love for peace and tranquillity within family and tribes as a whole.
He noted that Konyaks represents Naga freedom in many ways and Naga family is incomplete without them.
Kikon said that the Konyaks occupy strategic locations with majority of them living across the artificial border.
The artificial boundary may have divided the Nagas living in the international border with Myanmar and the border with Arunachal Pradesh in Mon district. But history reminds that Nagas are one people, he said.
He urged the Nagas to think beyond the artificial boundary and must keep on asserting its rights because Nagas united can achieve a lot.
Thejao Vihienuo, president of the Angami Public Organisation (APO), in his address, said that Konyaks symbolise courage and strength of the Nagas.
The APO president said that everyone now seemed to be seriously urging for solution to the Naga problems and called for a concerted effort to unite.
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Vihienuo stated that unity is the only way to find solution for Nagas. He urged people to stop finding fault in one another but rather take responsibility for hurting one another and prepare to say sorry to one another.
Stating that even if all the Naga political groups unite, solution will not arrive, he added that it is important that all civil society organisations, which are going to approve the solution of the Nagas, unite first.
The tribal unions and hohos have to think seriously of coming to a common platform where they can think and work for the interest of the Nagas, he added.
CL John, minister of Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Village Guards, also addressed the occasion and extended Aoleang greetings to all present.
Konyak Union Kohima president Khonjah also spoke during the occasion.
Chen area, Phomching area, Longchang area, Aboi area, Wakching area, and Mon circle union presented traditional dances.
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Mon: The Konyak Aoleang Monyu-cum-Mini Hornbill Festival 2026 was held at Konyak Heritage Complex, Mon, with MLA from Arunachal Pradesh Thangwang Wangham attending as the special guest.
According to a DIPR report, president of Eastern Sumi Hoho K Tokishe Sema attended as the honoured guest, while MLA Y Mankhao Konyak was the chief host.
Extending festive greetings, the special guest said that he is very honoured to be a part of the celebration, and added that he came not as a special guest but as a brother.
Wangham said that “The Land of Angh” is not just hosting the festival but also a grand coming together of the people from neighbouring states and from across the region with the spirit of oneness and unity from different places.
“A moment like this reminds us that we were never separated but divided by the political boundary on paper,” he asserted.
Congratulating the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) for signing the historic FNTA, he urged the people to work hard with true spirit of development for the people.
He also appealed to the younger generation to be educated, skilful and creative in every aspect of their life.
Tokishe Sema said that the celebration was marked with a proud reflection of a rich Konyak heritage, tradition and unity with identity and strengthening of community bonds.
Chief host Mankhao gave a brief note on the significance of the Aoleang Monyu.
EAC Mon, Shekhozo Vero, also addressed the festive gathering.
Cultural performances were presented by various troupes from Mon district and Arunachal Pradesh.
Earlier, the welcome address was delivered by president of Konyak Union K Yamao Konyak.