It took an octogenarian to tell the Naga public that Nagaland needs more night life for people to socialise and take opportunities available instead of locking themselves up only in their homes. This statement was made by none other than the Governor P B Acharya during his visit to the recently held Dimapur Night Carnival. He added further by suggesting that the district administration and community organisations should encourage social activity and entertainment cultures at least on weekends.
For a state with a long history of militancy that is slowly creeping back to normal, such statement by the highest office in the state is a welcome move and would surely embolden the authorities to permit and encourage more of such activities. Such activities bring the people together on a wider scale and it draws almost all sections of the people into one single location to socialise and also trade. Meeting people and learning other cultures have always been enriching, and a place like Dimapur has its own share of a very diverse diasporas of different people and cultures. In the recent carnival this fact was amply displayed when stalls offering different Indian cuisines manned by different communities were selling food side by side. There was also a stall that was offering food from as far as South India.
Besides the social aspect, such activities increases the economic activity of the people and the weekly bazaars in and around Dimapur at different locations every day of the week can be considered as the actual precursors to the current night bazaars and carnivals. For the uninitiated these weekly bazaars are almost like any other fairs or carnivals. Similarly, weekend bazaars and carnivals would bring together various enthusiasts, hobbyist and entrepreneurs in one big platform to promote and also trade. Just as the expertise displayed by the traders at regular daily bazaars, markets and the weekly bazaars around Dimapur, these weekend bazaars will be a very good exposure especially for the young entrepreneurs to learn similar arts of promoting, selling and also the intricacies involved in trading and will act as a launch pad for many. Moreover the camaraderie displayed by the regular traders is worth imbibing and such events are a valuable starter for the young Naga entrepreneurs that also results in a better networking for them.
Even though there has always been criticisms of the various festivities and carnivals especially in Social Media it has come to such a scenario that at present every association or every locality in the form of a colony or a khel wants to conduct some form of an evening carnival, market or fete. It seems even before the Governor’s statement urging more of such activities, the public already have realised the benefits of it.
