No display of items from Eastern Nagaland at Hornbill: ENSF, ENWO

Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) and Eastern Nagaland Women Organization (ENWO) have issued strict directive that “no individual, group or organization and government agencies should display any cultural items belonging to seven tribes of Eastern Nagaland during the entire Hornbill Festival under any circumstances.”
ENSF president Chingmak Chang and ENWO vice president Yongchem said they would have no option but to initiate stringent action against those defying the directive.
No objection to VGs Statehood Day participation: Meanwhile, ENSF and ENWO have said that they had no objection to the Village Guards (VG) taking part in the Statehood Day celebration to be held on December 1 at the Secretariat.
Referring to the Home department’s November 28 order, ENSF and ENWO acknowledged that the VGs were duty bound to take part in the Statehood Day celebrations as government employees. They, however, asked the VGs not to display any cultural items of the seven tribes, or make any cultural presentations/songs/dances and use of Morungs allotted to the seven tribes from Eastern Nagaland at Kisama.
Reaffirms Oct 14 resolution: They further said that, in consultation with all the former ENSF officials, former ENSF presidents, ENSF advisors and senior ENSF advisors, the seven federating units– Chang Wedoshi Setshang, Khiamniungan Students’ Union, Konyak Students Union, Phom Students’ Conference, Tikhir Students’ Union, United Sangtam Students’ Conference, Yimkhiung Akherü Arihako, Changsao Thangjam Setshang, Phomla Hoichem, Tikhir Women Association, Akehta Sangtamlarü Thsingmujang, Yimkhiung Women Organization, Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam and Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong have been directed to strictly implement the resolution adopted during the ENPO-CEC meeting held on October 14, 2022 at Tuensang vis-à-vis abstention from Hornbill Festival.
The reaffirmation of Oct. 14 resolution was also made during the November 16 ENPO CEC meeting held in Mon, they said.
‘Plan B’ if ENPO doesn’t show up
Tourism, Art and Culture adviser H. Khehovi Yepthomi Tuesday informed that if cultural troupes from Eastern Nagaland did not show up, the government had already made “Plan B” ready, which would be using Kohima and Dimapur-based eastern cultural clubs.
Addressing mediapersons here, he said the government was still awaiting response from ENPO and hoped that all tribes would participate in the festival.
On the delay in meeting ENPO as the series of consultations began only in the final days leading the festival, Yepthomi claimed that the government had held meetings earlier too, though ENPO’s response was not definite .