Morung Photo
Dimapur, December 5 (MExN): Cultural activities at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama will not be held on December 6 and activities will resume only after the completion of funeral services for the victims of the December 4 incident at Oting in Mon district.
The state government issued a statement through the DIPR late on Sunday evening, informing that a two-minute silence was observed at every Hornbill location across the State and the every day the events at Kisama will start with a two minutes silence and prayer. “While the events of the Hornbill will continue, the sympathy, solidarity and prayers of the entire Naga community are with the families and loved ones of the deceased,” the statement read.
The government also stated that on Sunday evening, candlelight march was held at Kisama beginning from the Konyak morung to the main gate and back to the Konyak morung. Organised by the leaders of the Eastern Naga People’s Organisation, the entire community of the Naga Heritage Village participated in the march, it said. As a mark of respect to the deceased and the victims, the evening events at Kisama were suspended this evening, it added.
Following the incident, several apex tribal bodies announced indefinite closure of their respective morungs at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
In separate press releases, apex bodies of the six tribes of Eastern Nagaland—the Konyaks, Changs, Yimkhiung, Khiamniungan, Phom, Sangtam, Angamis, Lothas, Aos, Chakhesangs, and Rengmas directed their respective communities not to partake in the festivities, as a mark of respect for the victims.
The Naga Mothers' Association also appealed to all the Naga tribes to stand in solidarity with the Konyaks and refrain from celebrations at the Hornbill Festival. “It is taboo in our Naga tradition to be feasting, while we mourn our dead in our homes,” it asserted.
