On Sunday, the second day of the Ahuna celebrations, the Sümi Hoho organised a ‘Sümi Unity Prayer Programme’ at Sümi Baptist Church Zunheboto (SBCZ).
The three-day celebrations of Ahuna, one of the main festivals of the Sümis, began on Saturday and is set to conclude today.
Read more: Ahuna festival cum Mini Hornbill Festival celebrations begin in Zunheboto
The Sümi Unity Prayer Programme began at 2pm on Sunday.
I Nikheto Jimomi, president of the Sümi Hoho, gave the key note address during which he thanked the SBCZ for organising the church service. He also thanked the special guest and the guest of honour for giving their time to attend the programme. He said God has been miraculously working in the life of Sümi people this year.
Er Picto Shohe, MLA, the guest of honour, thanked the Sümi Hoho for organising the programme. In his speech, he spoke on the importance of culture and noted that in the olden days, the Ahuna festival was celebrated to bring peace and unity.
Guest of Honour, Er Picto Shohe, MLA.
Er Shohe further encouraged the congregation to speak and stand for the truth, appreciate other people and pray for the Sümi people.
H Khehovi Yepthomi, Advisor, Tourism, Art & Culture, as the special guest delivered greetings to the congregation and said it was a special moment for him.
He said Zunheboto is the heart of Nagaland and encouraged the congregation to love and forgive others, and to stand for peace and unity.
Special Guest H Khehovi Yepthomi, Advisor, Tourism, Art & Culture.
Zunheboto is a land of warriors but now we should be warriors of peace and love, Yepthomi further stated. He encouraged the congregation to live a life of testimony to the non-Sümi people living in and around Zunheboto.
During the programme, it was also announced that the tourism department is planning to illuminate SBCZ with lights under the scheme PRASAD which has been approved by the Ministry of Tourism.
Dr Daniel Chishi, pastor of Zunheboto Town Sumi Baptist Church (ZTSBC), was the main speaker of the programme.
Drawing from the life of Paul, he spoke on how Paul did not want the Corinthian churches to have division among them. Dr Chishi then stressed on the need for the Sümi people to have unity and oneness among them. He encouraged the congregation not to carry grudges but to have unity both in their physical and spiritual life.
As a Christian, we should go back to the Bible and fulfil the commandments that have been given to us, he said.
The programme was chaired by Dr Huttton Sümi, pastor of SBCZ. The invocation was pronounced by Agape Chishi, Asst youth pastor of SBCZ.
The ZTSBC and SBCZ choir presented a special song. A prayer for the Sümi by Rev Kihoshe Asümi, pastor of NCRC Zunheboto. The benediction was pronounced by Aketo Yeptho, youth leader of ZTSBC.
