Reminiscing the past glory, the Lotha Community celebrated its premier festival Tokhu Emong Cum- Hornbill Celebration from November 2 to 7 at Wokha.
G. Kaito Aye, Minister for Road & Bridges (R&B) graced the occasion as the special guest, informed DPRO Wokha. Chairman Lotha Hoho extended the Tokhu greetings to the Lotha Community and thanked the Special guest for gracing the occasion. He also said that Tokhu Emong is celebrated to show case and to preserve the rich cultural heritage and it is also a time to forget and forgive our shortcomings and to reconciled among our-self to march forward.
G. Kaito Aye, Minister of Roads & Bridges, extended greetings to Tokhu Emong to the Lotha Community on his behalf and on the behalf of the state Govt. Of Nagaland . He said the Government Of Nagaland has taken over festivals of all the tribes of our state and is sponsoring it to make more vibrant to show case of our rich cultural heritage to outside world and to educate our younger generation the rich legacy, our forefather’s passed it on us. “Because of insurgency problems and our few local problems for decades, most of our rich cultural heritage were being lost without practice and without celebration,” said Aye, adding that it may have been celebrated individually, but not collectively during those years. Following 1997 and the initiation of peace process, living conditions has been enhanced, viewed Aye, and the celebration of our festivals has come about where Nagas has been able to showcase our rich cultural heritage to the outside world. “People from outside not only come to see our cultural heritage but they come to see us who we are, thus, we are showcasing our culture and activities and our living styles, what was with our fore fathers and who we were . Therefore our cultural identifies our own identity, likewise we are celebrating our Tokhu Emong today, and in culmination from 1st to 10th December. The State will showcase globally all the tribes festivals during the hornbill festivals,” stated Aye.
He expressed his optimism that Nagas are progressing in the right direction.
While speaking on the economy scenario of Nagaland, Aye urged the Lotha Community, the District Administration and Agri & Allied Department to collect status reports on village wise on production of the current year to know how much the District has yielded on agricultural produces. Since, Tokhu Emong is a post-harvest celebration, Aye made the appeal to analyse if the Lotha Community has surplus economy. “We have to know the percentage of district harvest, and the status report should reached to the state government. So that Govt will know, which Community, which District will likely to faced drought or due to bad harvest the constraint may be faced by that particular district, and So that the State will know the status of the economy of each district and the Govt will plan to assist each district to take remedial measure to make our economy progress,” stated Aye. He also urged the District Agriculture Officer (DAO) to spearhead and make a plan with the other line department to make the district a producing district as Nagaland is agriculture based economy state. In this regard, the Minister also urged the farmers to give more time on farming on agriculture production.
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While speaking on Naga foothill road which was expected to be completed on time, Aye expressed his regret that it is still struggling for completion, however he exuded confidence that the three hundred sixty (360) kilometres road from Khelma to Tizit will be completed soon. Therefore he urged the Lotha Community and the Naga Community in general to extend full cooperation to the State Govt. to complete the project on time. He also assured the Public that the Govt. will not compromised on this project.
On the Memorandum submitted by the Lotha Hoho on handing over the Wokha – Bokajan Road to the Border Road Organisation (BRO), Aye clarified that the Roads & Bridges Department is still waiting for the positive response from the Defence Department for clearance.
The highlights of the programme included presentation of Tokhu anthem by Nchumbemo Erui & group, significance of Tokhu Emong highlighted by Wobamo Tsopoe, Advisor Lotha Hoho, Cultural items from Sumi Cultural Troupe, Lotsu Village Cultural Troupe, Shantha Wokha Town Phiro Cultural Club, Folk Song (Male), Wokha Town Akuk Cultural Club, Folk Song (Female) Senthan Cultural Group Longsa, Folk Song (Solo) by Nyanbeni Ezung and Yodelling by Ellis Jungio. Pastor Wokha Town Baptist Church Rev. Abemo Jungio, pronounced God’s blessing to the people of Lotha Community. A Tug of War between Zuvotong Colony versus Hulk Fitness Gym was also held.
