Lipichem
Kiphire | September 3
The combined State Road Show-Mongmong festival in Kiphire concluded today with C Kipili Sangtam, chairman of NSMDC and DPDB as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, the chief guest said, “many developmental activities are taking place but they are not enough without culture and tradition and because of which the government has decided to host the festival coinciding with various tribes’ in the state.”
Sangtam said ‘because of yesterday we are what we are today’ and urged to work for peace to come in the land.
‘If culture perishes, peace may not come to our land and to preserve this culture, it is through festivals peace can be revived,’ he said. Urging the people to preserve their culture, the MLA said Naga traditional dresses are being transported to foreign lands and even have museums for them. However, he said, the culture in the land itself is fast losing out and so advised the people to preserve their traditional ways.
Elaborating on the road show, Sangtam said the event is not for ‘development of road’ but to ‘show the road to development to the people.’ The people should also realize their own responsibility to be a part of the development process for the progress of the society, he reminded.
Calling for peaceful co-existence between the tribes and communities, the chief guest urged the people to ‘love and forgive one another for everything belongs to God’ and men should ‘be teachers first then preach.’ “We are rich outside but poor inside,” he said and urged the community to be a role model not only ‘outside but also inside.’ Chairman of Kiphire Town Council R. Joshua in his welcome address remembered the forefathers for passing on a rich legacy and tradition to the younger generation. He also appreciated the DAN government for organizing the event.
The function witnessed a special performance from the handicapped union of Kiphire; Singti village B Khel, Sangphur village and Phelungru village dance troupes entertained the crowd. The event also witnessed activities of traditional hair-cutting, cotton weaving and play-fights among others. The District Statistical Officer for Kiphire also issued more than 200 birth certificates during the two-day show.
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