Hundreds of Rengma’s living in state capital celebrated “Ngada” under the theme “our culture, our identity” one of the greatest festival of the Rengma community with pomp and gaiety at Naga Solidarity Park Kohima with chairman DAN and president NFP, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu as the chief guest and parliamentary secretary of PWD (Housing), Er. Levi Rengma as the chief host of the celebration on Monday.
Dr. Liezietsu in his address stressed the importance of language and said it was one of the most important to retain one’s culture and identity. He encouraged the Rengma community to take up Tenyidie in school and university and he also disclosed that the Tenyidie language would be used in UPSC exam once the proposal was accepted by the central government. Stressing on the importance of staying together as family, he reminded that Tenyimia people were blood relation and family from the same ancestors.
He expressed great joy and happiness to be part of the Rengma Ngada festival and also shared the significance of Naga traditional festival passed down from the forefathers. He urged the gathering to preserve what was good even for the generation to come.
Er. Levi Rengma in his speech shared about the festival and said Ngada festival marked the completion of the agricultural year and the enjoyment of the year’s harvest.
He said it was a festival where the poor and rich shared with each other without any distinction and the wrongdoings of individuals against each other were forgiven and forgotten.
He reminded the gathering that Ngada festival also marked the remembrance of the death ones by sharing drinks and food in the form of offerings at their graveyards.
The programme was led by Benjamin Lorin general secretary RPOK, C.T. Rengma said the blessing and pronouncement of Ngada, invocation prayer by Dr. Kenny Tsela pastor Rengma Baptist church Kohima, welcome address delivered by Khinyi Woch president Rengma Public organization Kohima, special songs presented by Dayspring, folk song and folk dance were presented by Kithagba Welfare Society Kohima and Tesophenyu Cultural Troupe Kohima respectively. Vote of thanks was proposed by Shingato Jemu VP RPOK. The programme was compeered by Phasenli Kath and Awa Lorin. Various traditional games were played like howling and yowling, high kick, strength show contest and tug of war contest.
Host of parliamentary secretaries, minister, dignitaries, government officials, well wishers, public and others attended the celebration.