Wonchio Odyuo urges youths to preserve Lotha culture and traditions during Tokhü Emong celebrations in Wokha.
WOKHA — The third day of the Tokhü Emong festival was marked by a cultural day and competition programme at the Public Ground, Wokha, on Friday, featuring folk song and folk dance competitions that showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Lotha community.
Wonchio Odyuo, Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, attended the programme as the special guest.
Addressing the gathering, Odyuo described Tokhü Emong as a festival of love, unity and forgiveness, and emphasised the importance of preserving cultural identity amid modernisation and changing lifestyles.
He said culture reflects the identity of a people through their language, food, beverages, traditional attire and customs. Urging the people, particularly the younger generation, to safeguard their heritage, he encouraged youths to become ambassadors of culture and carry forward the traditions and values of their forefathers.
Stressing the importance of language in cultural preservation, Odyuo encouraged families to speak their mother tongue at home, describing it as the foundation of cultural continuity.
He also called upon villages to establish cultural clubs to promote and preserve indigenous traditions. Such initiatives, he said, would help instil cultural values and awareness among students and youths from an early age.
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Participants dressed in traditional attire presented vibrant folk songs and dances, highlighting the uniqueness of Lotha customs and traditions.
The competitions witnessed participation from various groups and added colour to the celebrations.
Later, the special guest officially launched the folk song and folk dance competitions, marking the commencement of the contest segment of the cultural day programme.