Third edition of Longkhum Cherry Blossom Festival begins

LONGKHUM — The third edition of the Longkhum Cherry Blossom Festival began at Longkhum village on Thursday.

The three-day celebration, organised by the Longkhum Tourism Board, was inaugurated by Imkongchuba A, chairman of the Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC).

In his inaugural address, Imkongchuba described the Cherry Blossom Festival as a celebration of Longkhum’s culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. He lauded the village, a historic vanguard of the Ao people, for transforming a modest community tree-plantation initiative into a major event that now attracts tourists, photographers, nature enthusiasts, and cultural travellers from across the region.

Highlighting the success of previous editions, he noted that the festival has effectively showcased the harmonious blend of cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and community enterprise, placing Longkhum on Nagaland’s tourism map through music, handicraft exhibitions, farm-fresh produce, wellness activities, and guided nature walks.

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The chairman urged the people of Longkhum to leverage their hard work, resilience, and self-reliance to evolve the seasonal festival into a year-round tourist destination that brings sustainable benefits to every household.

“A festival alone cannot shape the future; only the people can turn Longkhum into a lasting destination,” he asserted.

To achieve this vision, he proposed developing visitor guidelines, training knowledgeable local guides on history and culture, establishing quality homestays, installing multilingual signboards detailing the village’s rich heritage, and refining indigenous handlooms, crafts, cuisine, and souvenirs. He also recommended maintaining a guest feedback register to continuously improve services.

Imkongchuba encouraged the Longkhum Tourism Board to launch a dedicated Tomato Festival, capitalising on the village’s famed produce that supplies much of Mokokchung district during peak season. Such an event, he said, could serve as a farmer-buyer-investor platform, boost tomato cultivation, and further strengthen the village’s tourism appeal.

Aostungba, a member of the organising committee, shared that visitors can enjoy local beverages, traditional food stalls, floral displays, and handmade products.

Evening entertainment will feature live performances by bands such as Divine Connection, Stereo Groove, and several other artists. Key highlights include an Ao folk song fusion competition, a Green Trail Run (half-marathon), and separate men’s and women’s fitness contests.