3-day Moatsu festival begins at Mokokchung

The celebration of Moatsu festival, the premier festival of the Ao Nagas, got underway at the Imkongmeren Sports Complex here on Monday.
The festival is being held on the theme ‘Celebrating our Roots’ and organised by the Ao Senden with the collective celebration initiated by the Government of Nagaland. The three-day festival kickstarted with legislator Nuklutoshi gracing the inaugural event as the guest of honour in lieu of Water Resources adviser Tongpang Ozukum, who could not make it due to some official works.
Addressing the gathering, Nuklutoshi stressed on unity among the people. Without unity, he cautioned that the future would be bleak. He said the 11 Ao legislators had recently come together and resolved to remain united across party lines and called upon the Aos led by the Ao Senden to follow suit.
He recalled how the forefathers of Nagas had celebrated such festivals to foster unity amongst neighbours and maintain brotherhood. He called upon the Aos to stand united for survival as, according to him, there was no future if there was no unity.
Touching on the Naga political issue, he said the vexed issue should be solved at the earliest. He feared that the longer it lingered, worse things could happen. He therefore urged all the stakeholders to give a serious thought on this issue.
Earlier, DC Mokokchung S Pratap Singh extended the Moatsu greetings. The programme was followed by inter-ward indigenous games competitions that included tug-of-war (both men and women), pole climbing and bamboos tilt walking.
In the pole climbing competition, Alempang ward emerged as the champion while Kumlong ward earned the second position.
In the bamboo stilt walking competition, Alempang ward bagged the first prize and Yimyu ward second. On Tuesday (the main celebration) chief minister Neiphiu Rio will grace the programme as special guest.