The 17th edition of Phom Monyiu festival jointly organized by Nagaland state tourism department and Pongo Village Council was celebrated with much pomp and gaiety at Tourism village Pongo, Longleng on Tuesday. Executive engineer PHED, Longleng, Er. Imnazulu Ao graced the celebration as special guest.
Extending greetings to the Phom community, the special guest said, Nagas celebrate their respective festivals throughout the year in their own unique culture and traditions by invoking God’s blessings for the year ahead.
He also empathized on the rich culture and traditions of the Nagas, and reminded the gathering that preservation of the rich culture and traditions should be regarded as important, so that the unique identity is not lost due to modernization.
He said festival was a time to rejoice, reconcile, forgive and forget the past misdeeds and set new approach to move forward in every field. He therefore, called upon the people to maintain peace and unity, adding that peaceful coexistence was the first and foremost thing towards the celebration of any festivals.
Speaking on the significance of Phom Monyiu festival, P. Khangyong G B said, the festival is celebrated in the first week of April every year with much pomp and gaiety in every Phom villages.
He said, it was observed after sowing seeds in the fields and spread for six days starting from April 1.
However, with the advent of Christianity, followed by the mass conversion to Christianity; for some time, the Phom did not give much importance to traditional festival.
But, with the dawn of new understanding that Christianity can also be adapted to the Phom culture and that traditional values can also be incorporated in the process of modernization, Phom youngsters are making strong effort to rediscover and preserve the rich heritage. Students’ unions of every Phom village are playing commendable role in this direction.
The highlights of the celebration included Bu ow Kesho (folk dance) by village guard Pongo village, Vonglukuongpu (bamboo pole climbing) competition, Aw shumanlung (indigenous fire making), Vu Shupu (tug of war) between Church leaders and Pongo village council and Denjakesho (modern song) by Pongo Baptist youth.
Apart from delegates from neighbouring villages, special invitees from Ao and Konyak communities also attended the day-long celebration.
Earlier, the programme began with an invocation prayer by L. T. Monglong Phom pastor Pongo Baptist Church, welcome address was delivered by Bunga Phom, Monyiu chairman and vote of thanks by K. Chungba Phom, chairman Pongo village council.
The programme ended with a benediction by Kaito, associate pastor PBC.