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A ‘Zünga’ (peer group) participates in “Meyu-menü,” an indigenous form of procession that involves yodelling while carrying wood, during the Moastü celebrations at Sungratsu village in Mokokchung district on Wednesday, May 3. The wood is to be used as pillar in building the Morung, a dormitory.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, May 3 (EMN): Moatsu Mong, a festival that provides recreation and amusement to the Ao tribe after hectic and stressful agricultural activities, was celebrated at Sungratsu village in Mokokchung with Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Dr Imtiwapang Aier as the chief guest of the event on Wednesday.
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A young man representing a ‘Zünga’ (peer group) participating in “Jong Alemshishiba,” leaping over the shields, to exhibit his skills during the Maotsu Mong celebrations at Senden Lenden in Sungratsu village in Mokokchung district on Wednesday, May 3.[/caption]
Addressing the programme, Dr Imtiwapang Aier said that human migration had ‘become a major international crisis.’ Nagaland too is being affected by ‘the wave of human migration,’ he explained.
Dr Imtiwapang Aier asserted that migration has vast impact on ‘cultural mixing, which even let to the starting of new religions compelled by the situation.’
He cautioned that ‘if we are not careful to preserve our culture and language we might lose our rich cultural heritage that identifies us.’
The speaker asserted that language was the first step to preserving and promoting ‘cultural ethos.’ He has urged that people to giving more importance to language. He called upon the people to not only preserve and promote ‘culture folk dances and songs’ but to recreate ‘our news folk dances and songs.’
Earlier, various ‘Zünga’ peer groups such as the Watsu Telen and Sungratsu Kaket Rejusanger Telongjem performed cultural items, followed by “Meyu-menü” a procession that involves yodelling and sound-making when carrying wood. “Jong Alemshishiba,” which is a competition that involves leaping over shields, was conducted for various peer groups to mark the occasion.
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