Mangmetong Cultural Club Kohima (MCCK) observed its silver jubilee at Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performaing Arts (RCEMPA), Jotsoma on Thursday.
According to a DIPR report, guest speaker of the programme, Dr. Watijungshi Jamir while speaking on culture reformation said culture was an organised body of conventional understanding manifested in art and artefacts, which persisted through tradition and characterized a human group.
Dr. Watijungshi said that one must give importance to traditional attires as it identified a community and that traditional attires had deep significant meaning and were valued as the materials used to make them were not easily available.
Dr. Watijungshi Jamir advised MCCK to organise cultural programmes, teach traditional folk songs, dances, stories and “how to use the traditional machete (dao)” to the younger generation. He also encouraged them to set up a museum in the native village to display artefacts, traditional attires and tools used by the Mangmetong villagers for tourist to see and the younger generations to learn.
Meanwhile, first president of MCCK, L. Ayang Imchen in his speech said that the club was formed in the year 1996, with 18 members and shared the struggles in the initial period.
He added the Club was registered in 2001 by the Home Department to become a recognised club and since then have been performing in government events.
DIG prison, Imtiangshi Ao pointed out that many countries around the world moved forward as they followed their own culture but “we” copied other cultures and hence failed to go forward.
In this regard, he urged all to retrospect and follow their culture by preserving and practising it.
Earlier, Tongpang L. Imchen urged the club members to venture to the villages to learn more on culture and educate people about the importance of conservation of environment.
Others who spoke on the occasion included executive engineer, Imnameren Imchen, Mangmetong Union Kohima president, Samson Tzudir, MCCK president, Panger Imchen, Asenla Akang and Timothy Imchen.
A folk song was also presented by Kohima Mangmetong Women Union.
The MCCK souvenir booklet was released by joint secretary, school education, Nokchasashi Kichu.