Wangkhao Government College, Mon, celebrated its Cultural Day on March 28 at the college’s Open Auditorium, highlighting the deep ties between environment and cultural identity under the theme “Environment as Cultural Heritage.”
Delivering the welcome address in the first session, Convenor of the Cultural Committee, Honjem Konyak extended warm greetings to faculty and students. He underscored the intrinsic link between environment and culture, noting that among the Nagas, environmental influence is reflected through various art forms including metalwork, stone and woodcraft, songs, dances, storytelling, ornaments and traditional attire.
He cautioned that changing land-use patterns and developmental activities inevitably affect nature, urging the gathering to remain sensitive to such impacts while taking pride in a culture that embodies deep environmental wisdom.
In her exhortation, Vice Principal, Dr. Esther P. Konyak emphasized that the environment itself is an intangible cultural heritage at risk of being forgotten. She added that festivals, art and music remain rooted in the soil and seasons that shape the community’s identity. A special presentation titled “Watlong Shup” was performed by the College Ensemble.
The second session featured a series of traditional competitive events including war cry, log drum beating, bead-making, folk fusion, bamboo pole climbing and five stones. Both sessions were chaired by Cultural Secretary of WGCSU Aying W. Wangsa.
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Assistant Cultural Secretary, WGCSU Popa Konyak.
