Parliamentary secretary, Agriculture and chairman NSAMB Dr. Benjongliba Aier urged the parents not to educate children on how to be rich but educate them to be happy so when they grow up they would know the value of things and not the price. Dr. Aier said this while addressing the host of parents during Tsüngremmong festival as the chief guest, organized by Kohima Lirmen Senso Telongjem held at capital convention centre Kohima on Tuesday.
Highlighting on Tsüngremmong festival significance, Dr Aier said it was the celebration of sanctification of self and society for obtaining blessings from God. He said it has a strong bearing on the community building as the entire society come together to work, earn and eventually share with one another during this festival. He asserted that in order to get blessings from God, “we” need to sanctify ourselves.
Recalling the last fifty years, he said “our” society has progressed in leaps and bounds with population of less than four lakhs to twenty lakhs, literacy rate of less than 4% to more than 85%, living standard moved from thatch house to RCC building and few churches to more than 1500 churches now. However, lamenting at our present society he said “we are living in a broken society” where there are lots economic inequalities, class distinction and social injustice. He challenged the gathering the need to have the presence of Christ in “our” society and to follow the example of Christ’s leadership.
The celebration programme started with invocation prayer by secretary KABA A. Moa Longchar, welcome address delivered by N. Meren Imchen, folk song presented by Dimapur Lirmen Senso Telongjem while A. Temjenlemba Longchar shared the significant of Tsüngremmong festival. Festival folk song was presented by Kohima Lirmentsür Telongjem, brief address by president DLST and president KJST, Toshinaro Imchen presented special song while Asangba Longchar proposed vote of thanks. The formal programme was followed by Tsüngremmong feast. (Correspondent)
DMST: Dimapur Mangmetong Senso Telongjem (DMST) celebrated ‘Tsungremmong’ festival, one of the premier festivals of the Ao tribe at IMC hall on Tuesday.
During the celebration, different speakers covered the topic on “Nülaksü” (sign of promise or pledge by spiking the spear into the ground) by L.Imdong Imchen, “ Kibalempu aser sobusolemtsü” (Traditional marriage and traditional attire) by I. Pangjung Tzüdir, “asüdang, lepkhumong/menen khui aiba” (the tradition of mourning /cleansing of the evil after death) by Nokinkümba and “alar/kilir ayuba yimya & tetsür jenjang” (tradition of keeping slaves and servants/position of women in Ao society) by A Mayang Imchen.
The programme was chaired by M.Panger Imchen while invocation was pronounced by Dr.Bendang pastor.
‘Tsungremmong’ song was presented by Mangmetongtsür Telongjem Dimapur, Masem ken by Diphupar unit, Kimak ken by Aoyimkum and Nüknürar ken by Mangmetong students union, Dimapur unit.
Vote of thanks was delivered by vice president, DMST Talitemjen while the programme was followed by “Tsungremmong feast”. (Staff Reporter)
LONGSA village: Longsa village and neighboring villages, guests and invitees celebrated the premier festival of the Ao community Tsüngremmung with minister for RD & REPA, C.L John as the chief guest.
Tsüngremmung, the pre-harvest festival of the Aos, is also known as Longsamung, and each year the Longsa Village Council has been celebrating the Tsüngremmung in a grand manner. Over the past few years, the Tourism department of Nagaland has been actively collaborating with the LVC in celebrating Tsüngremmung at Longsa village.
Speaking as the chief guest, C.L John, said that festival was a time for giving, for reconciliation and a time to forgive and forget. He asserted that festivals were the backbone of a nation and added that “without festivals there would be no nation”. He asserted that festivals have been given by God and therefore, should be celebrated in true Christian spirit. In this regard, the minister strongly advocated for Christian spirit among the Nagas and said that the Naga people were recognized as a people by the world only through Christianity. Therefore, he called for celebrating cultural festivals in true Christian spirit invoking God’s blessings, to forgive and forget and to bring reconciliation in the society.
Dwelling on the present Naga society, C.L John lamented about the disunity, tribalism and factionalism prevalent today. He said that, “the division that we have today in our Naga society is our creation, not of our forefathers”. The minister strongly asserted that it is “we that has brought the division in the society, and that it is we (the present generation) to bring about unity and reconciliation in the society”.
He said that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly with sixty representatives is united today; he therefore questioned why the civil society and the Naga Political groups were not united.
In this regard, he urged the civil societies, especially the tribal hohos and the village councils, to works towards bringing unity and reconciliation in the Naga society.
An official from the Tourism department also spoke at the programme and declared that the department was always willing to assist Longsa, a declared tourist destination, in any way in the days to come.
A village elder and leader of Longsa, Yashimeren (tatar) spoke about the significance of Tsüngremmung. The partakers of Longsa Tsüngremmung were also highly entertained by cultural presentations by students of Govt. High School Longsa. The festivity was also heightened by the dancing troupes from Tsatanger village (Sangtam) and Sapatomi village
(Sumi) who joined in with Longsa, their neighboring villages. A host of dignitaries, legislators, officials from the Rural Development and Tourism departments, representatives from the Mokokchung Town Lanur Telungjem etc accompanied the chief guest and attended the grand festivity.
MSTK: Mopungchuket Senso Telongjem Kohima (MSTK) celebrated its culture society silver jubilee cum Tsüngremmong festival at badminton indoor stadium Kohima on Tuesday.
Secretary Home and Irrigation & Flood Control, Bendangkokba IAS in his address said culture and tradition meant living after birth, promoted since “our” forefathers’ time and the root of culture was not only the folk songs and dances with the traditional attires but referred to everything that “we” do. He said “we need to refine our culture and spread the message to the world through various means” and the youths have significant vital role to play in spreading the message to the world.
He reminded that there were many types of cultures like the horticulture, agriculture, sericulture etc but work culture was very important to sustain life i.e. dignity of labour. He challenged the gathering on how the Nagas can serve the government through work culture to improve economic development, good roads, good hospitals, good schools, good harvest etc. It was for the government servants and public to bring changes in the society. Bendangkokba IAS also extended warm greetings to MSTK on Tsüngremmong festival.
MSTK president Maongtemjen Aier in his brief address said that many of “our good cultures and traditions” received from “our ancestors are slowly disappearing today in this fast growing world” and there was a great significance in celebrating the silver jubilee of the culture society of MSTK cum Tsüngremmong festival with great joy.
He expressed gratitude to the souvenir committee for their tireless contributions on the culture and tradition book making a fine platform in the field of culture for the upcoming generations in the society.
The programme was led by A. Temjen jamir, invocation prayer by Tiarenla Jamir, historical background of MSTK culture society was delivered by K. Tali Jamir, cultural presentation led by Temjensashi Jamir, special culture presentation by Longmiasang Cultural Society Dimapur, special song presented by MALT Kohima, Aotemolungtsür Telongjem Kohima presented folk song, concluding remark said by Aotemjen Jamir, song pf celebration presented by K. Imnajunba Jamir while closing prayer said by Tiawati lemtor.
Jubilee souvenir was released by principal director Health and Family Welfare Nagaland Dr. L. Watikala, additional development commissioner Planning Nagaland, Aolemla Jamir released the book on culture titled “Sobaliba Nükmen”, labour commissioner Nagaland Er. Nüngshiyanger Aier released culture society from 1991-2016 documented DVD titled “Lahbe”.
It may be mentioned that MSTK stressed on the importance of preserving culture and tradition and started its association way back in 1991 involving in various cultural activities by preserving various cultural dresses and ornaments. In 2015 the society undertook a jhum cultivation at Zubza to impart the knowledge of forefather days of cultivation to the students where practical involvement of jungle cutting till harvesting were taught and documented through film. The society focuses on how to preserve the rich culture and traditions of the forefather to pass down from generations to generations. (Correspondent)