Terming Lotha’s cultural heritage as “vast” and “greatest wealth”, advisor agriculture, Mhathung Yanthan said the vast culture also comes with a lot of challenges and called upon the community to focus on preserving their cultural heritage.
He was speaking at the “Lotha Language Festival” organised by the Lotha Academy and Lotha Naga Cultural Resource Centre with Mount Tiyi College Saturday at Don Bosco Resource Centre, Wokha, as the special guest.
Mhathung underscored the importance of safeguarding one’s cultural heritage and language as it is an essential part of one’s identity and community.
He said knowing one’s linguistic roots and honouring ancestral legacies were essential acts of “cultural protectors” and stressed the need to appreciate and take pride in the rich cultural heritage.
Expressing regret at the gradual disappearance of the traditional attires which were once proudly worn by ancestors, Mhathung urged the gathering to research and rediscover the traditional ornaments and attires.
The advisor also expressed concern over the decline of communicating in mother tongue, especially among the younger generation. Mhathung then urged the gathering to put efforts into preserving and promoting the Lotha language, advocating for the creation of more vernacular language books and urging students to take up the Lotha language as an academic subject.
He also appreciated the Lotha Academy’s endeavours in promoting the Lotha language.
A skit on the topic “Benefit of Speaking Lotha Language” was presented by the students of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Wokha; narration of a Lotha folktale on Lotha headhunting or war was presented by an elderly citizen, Bijamo Erui, while Yitsomo Murry highlighted the gathering on “Lotha marriage”, and recitation and narration of poetry by Chopathung Humtsoe.
The second session witnessed competitions in poetry recitation and exposition, spelling bee and folksongs. The following were declared winners in different categories: Spelling Bee for Class 1-4, Wonjano M Tungoe (Perennial School, Wokha), Mmhahungi Ezung (Fernbrook School, Wokha) and Mungyanti M Odyuo (DBHSS, Wokha) as first, second and third respectively, and for Class 5-8, Ekonbeni W Kikon (Fernbrook School, Wokha), Imkongnukshi Ozukum (Isaiah Ability Higher Secondary School, Wokha) and Shancho Kithan (Perennial School, Wokha) as first, second and third respectively; poem recitation & exposition for Class 11-12, Mhabeni Z. Ngullie (Isaiah Ability Higher Secondary School), Zarenbeni W Kikon (DBHSS, Wokha) and Meribeni Y Kikon (GHSS, Wokha) as first, second and third respectively; and folksong, DBHSS, Wokha, St. Peter’s School, Longsa, Mt. Tiyi College, Wokha as first, second and third respectively.
