The All Madhya Pradesh Naga Welfare Society (AMPNWS) successfully hosted its first-ever Cultural Day Celebration at Labh Mandapam, Indore, marking a historic milestone for the Naga community residing in Madhya Pradesh. The event was the first cultural programme of its kind by a Northeast community in the state and brought together more than 500 guests from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the rich traditions, customs and unity of the Naga people.
The programme commenced with a ceremonial curtain-raising and was compered by Sulika and Akika. Welcoming the dignitaries, guests and participants, AMPNWS president Dr Imlimenba Walling expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support extended to the society’s maiden cultural event and described the occasion as a significant step towards promoting Naga culture beyond the Northeast.
Delivering the exhortation, Dr M Chuba Ao, National Vice President of the BJP and Chairman of MARCOFED, highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Northeast India and emphasized that the region’s diverse traditions have always fostered peace, harmony and unity. He also invited the gathering to visit Nagaland and experience the internationally acclaimed Hornbill Festival, popularly known as the “Festival of Festivals.”
The cultural segment featured a captivating folk song by the Zeliangrong community, followed by “Rhythms of Life” presented by Chui Ruangmei. A colourful Cultural Parade showcasing the traditional attire, customs and unique identities of various Naga tribes emerged as one of the highlights of the programme, earning appreciation from the audience.
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The chief guest, Advisor for Information & Public Relations and Soil & Water Conservation, Government of Nagaland, Daochier I Imchen, in his address, reminisced about his college days when he and his friends had started a small cultural forum in a library hall and organized a programme titled “Footprints.” He said that what began as a modest initiative eventually evolved into a celebrated annual event and expressed hope that the AMPNWS Cultural Day would similarly grow into a landmark annual celebration.
Stressing the importance of preserving indigenous identity, Imchen said the colourful traditions and traditional attire of the Naga people reflect their rich heritage and unique identity. He encouraged members of the community to take pride in preserving their culture and sharing it with people from other parts of the country so that future generations and other communities could better appreciate the richness of Naga traditions.
The programme also featured short addresses by Pratap Nair, representing the Mayor of Indore; Jai Kumrawat, representative of TRIFED under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India; and Neeraj Sankat, Founder of the Indore Social Welfare Foundation. The speakers commended AMPNWS for organizing the event and appreciated its efforts to promote cultural exchange and unity.
The celebrations continued with an artist spotlight featuring Boss Meren, followed by a cultural ballad presented by the Sumi community. An investiture ceremony conducted by Rev. Lipokinba, Secretary of NMM, was also held during the programme. The formal session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by AMPNWS Assistant General Secretary Atoholi Yepthomi.
An exhibition of indigenous products was organised alongside the cultural programme, with Tribes India displaying a variety of traditional products through its stall, attracting considerable interest from visitors throughout the day.
The evening concluded with a vibrant live concert featuring renowned artists Boss Meren, Moko Koza, Chui Ruangmei, Emma Hmar and Litoka Kinimi, who enthralled the audience with their performances and brought the inaugural Cultural Day celebration to a memorable close.
