P Shilu Ao Indigenous Games Festival concludes at Longjang village

MOKOKCHUNG — The two-day P Shilu Ao Indigenous Games Festival-cum-2nd Tug-of-War Championship concluded on November 8 at Longjang village, Mokokchung, combining cultural activities with competitions and tributes to Nagaland’s first chief minister.

Organised by the Longjang Riongjanger Cultural Society Mokokchung (LRCS), the event saw participation from ten neighbouring villages—Longpa, Sungratsu, Khar, Mongchen, Dibuia, Waromung, Asangma, Kilengmen, Mongsenyimti, and Chuchuyimlang—along with invitees from nearby villages.

The festival featured traditional games, folk songs, and dances.

In his inaugural address, Tongpang Ozukum, MLA and advisor for Water Resources, spoke about the legacy of P Shilu Ao. He stated that the people were cherishing the achievements of their great leader and recalled that Ao, after assuming office in 1963, had taken initiatives to restore peace in Nagaland.

He commended LRCS for honouring the former leader through the festival, describing it as an important effort to preserve history. He assured that collaborative efforts would continue to sustain such initiatives and encouraged villagers to contribute towards their success. He also emphasised that indigenous games were vital parts of cultural identity that must be preserved.

Related: P Shilu Ao Memorial Indigenous Games opens at Longjang village

Addressing the gathering, Nuklotoshi, MLA and chairman of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) Mokokchung, observed that unity remains a major challenge for the Ao community despite frequent appeals from political and church leaders. He said that the people must revive the spirit of peace among the Ao community and Nagas in general.

He noted that the festival served as an example of unity and remarked that harmony with neighbouring villages is more valuable than disputes and enmities.

A Pangjung Jamir, MLA and advisor for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, who hails from Asangma village, expressed gratitude for the developments brought by P Shilu Ao. He stated that his village would always remember the contributions of the former leader.

Jamir encouraged the participants of the tug-of-war competition to apply the same sense of teamwork and cooperation in their villages for collective growth and prosperity.

Marsanen Imsong, president of Ao Senden, called for meaningful projects to honour P Shilu Ao’s legacy across the Ao community and Nagaland. He stated that honesty is essential to achieving unity and added that integrity is the key to bringing people together.

He observed that while educated youth are often regarded as signs of societal advancement, true progress depends on building peaceful and prosperous communities. He further said that opportunities should be created for the educated so that their potential would not be wasted. He urged the youth to work diligently with honesty as their guiding principle, warning that compromising ethics for convenience would hinder the rise of future leaders.

The festival included traditional games such as bamboo pole chopping and folk performances. The tug-of-war championship was won by Longjang village, which defeated Sungratsu and received a trophy along with a cash prize of INR 30,000. The runner-up received INR 20,000.

At the closing ceremony, the chief guest and host, TN Mannen, MLA and advisor for Law and Justice and Land Revenue, reflected on P Shilu Ao’s contributions to the formation of Nagaland and his efforts for peace.

Mannen suggested that the tug-of-war event could be organised on a larger scale, saying that such competitions promote healthy rivalry and strengthen unity. He remarked that while there is often a lack of cohesion, festivals like this encourage understanding and friendship among communities.