Nusakholu Dawhuo with her story “Love story of Dari & Rakhrülü” emerged as the winner of the first Nagaland online folktale story telling competition held under the theme “Spreading wings to the untold Naga folklores”.
The event began on July 5 with the finale held on Monday and subsequently the results were declared in the evening.
Imnichetla Jamir with her story “The Quest of Sarilungle” was adjudged the runner-up of the event.
Nusakholu and Imnichetla received cash prizes and e-certificates which were sponsored by Tetseo Sisters member Kuvelu Tetseo.
The winner Nusakholu’s folktale evolved around a love story and friendship between two neighbouring village-Chedema (Kohima district) and Thenyizu (Phek district).
The story summarized the conclusion that physical body will die away and decay but true love and real friendship would last forever.
While Imnichetla story was about a husband and his wife who wanted to survive without working however, they finally realised that they both wasted their youths searching for it.
Moral of the story was the only way for a prosperous life is through hard-work and contentment.
The organising committee disclosed that participants/ entries were thoroughly scrutinized by the judges basing on presentation skill-relevance/significance, creativity, authenticity and moral of the story.
Panel of judges included PenThrill Publication House publisher and journalist-Rita Krocha, Kohima Press Club president and journalist-Alice Yhoshü and news editor at All India Radio (AIR) Kohima, Asonuo.
The organiser informed that the competition aimed to conserve and spread the message of preserving the traditional folktales being passed down from generation to generation.
With oral tradition of storytelling slowly fading, we are losing the good old stories of our forefathers and through this competition the organisers plan to preserve and present the folklores as oral documents for the future generations, the organisers added.
Other subtitle awards included Youngest Participant which was bagged by four year old Menlei Phom with her story “Owl and Shrew” sponsored by NarohDecor Kohima.
People’s choice award and best narrator (U-15) was awarded to Imsupongla Longchar for her story “A tale of a mouse and a man” while Aboli Wotsa with her story “The Angel’s wife” received the judges choice award category.
A total of 47 participants from various districts in the State took part in the event with the Thanso Yimchunger (87) as the oldest participant.
The first of its kind event was oganised and managed by visual production house, Naga Manu Productions.