Kohima, December 11 (MExN): Makuiluangdi Festival 2019, a historic-cultural confluence was organized by Luangdimai Citizens Forum (LCF) in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR) and North Eastern Council (NEC) at Makuiluangdi Village, Senapati, Manipur from November 28-30.
The festival was held under the theme Malanwangbo: Return of the Native, as a symbolic return to the village since Luangdimai people migrated from Makuiluangdi long time ago, said a press statement from Chairman of Makuiluangdi Festival 2019, Dr Samuel Pamei and Convenor of Media & Publicity Committee, K Elu Ndang.
The festival was opened with Huai, Luangdimai traditional invocation and fire-making ceremony. The Luangdimai Flag was unfurled by Apau Neigwetseing Hemang, an elder from Poilwa Village.
The highlights included presentation by Laisong Village, Heraka Youth (Assam), Poilwa, Peren and Puilwa villages (Nagaland) and Makuilongdi Part 4, Ze Mnui Village, Cultural artistes from Tamenglong, Kabuanram, Tamei and Imphal, Manipur.
The central event of the festival was the Malanwangbo stone-piling ceremony signifying the return of the native, for which almost all Luangdimai villages brought stones inscribed with the name of their respective villages for the ceremony, the release added.
Speeches were delivered by Dr Samuel Pamei, Chairman of Makuiluangdi Festival; K Elu Ndang, General Secretary, Naga Hoho; Dr Engam Pame (IIS) and Dr Elungkiebe Zeliang (MLCU, Shillong).
Samuel Jendai Kamei, MLA, Tamenglong also exhorted the celebrants. About 2000 people from across Assam, Manipur, Nagaland including from cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Pune, Chennai, Shillong etc attended the three-day festival.
