MyKi fest- A home for women

Different stalls selling products at MyKi fest in Kohima on December 5. (Morung Photo)

Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 5

A two-day long 2nd MyKi fest 2019 as part of Hornbill festival commenced at the Directorate of Women Resource Development, Bayavü, Kohima. The fest will go on till December 6 from 10:00 to 7:00 PM.

The word Myki has a double meaning: In the Nagamese franca lingua, it simply means ‘women or girls’. A combination of the English language and the local dialects gives the connotation ‘My Home’. Incidentally, the word ‘Ki’ is used by all the major Naga tribes for ‘Home’ or ‘House’ (with the exception of the Sangtam tribe, who call it as ‘Ku’).

As such, 'Myki' is the termed used by the department and all stakeholders to mean ‘a home for women’ where various livelihoods activities are taken up.

All products at MyKi fest are locally made and produced by womenfolk.

The department launched MyKiFest during October 2018-19 to celebrate the contributions of women as equal partners in the socio-economic development of the state, be it cultivators, farmers, artisans, entrepreneurs, professionals, homemakers etc.

The event has already been included in the Hornbill festival calendar of events, 2019.
Earlier, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry and Women Resource Development, Advisor, R Khing formally inaugurated the MyKi fest.

He said that the department has done a lot in the area of self employment raising the standard of living and by contributing almost 50% of in terms of income generation especially for the people living in the rural areas.

He asked all the officers and the staff to give more effort so that the state can witness more income generation and economic development in the state.

This year, MyKiFest featured 16 stalls from Kohima, Wokha, Dimapur, Phek, Peren, Zunheboto, Tuensang and Mokokchung districts.

It includes Transformative Livelihood Intervention project, Training cum production centre, Ralong's Creation, Precious MeLove, Quirky Qrafts, Nyanbeni Kikon, Yangerla, Manle Konyak, Phuyang SHG Tuensang, Nourhe Womens Group, Heloise Kelio Thapru, Nagashi Bee Keeping, SHG Federation New Tesen Village, Ketoulenuo Solo, Vungi women SHG Bayavu,  Vungi Women SHG and Akheli Canteen.

The products includes tailored/knitted apparels, paper crafts & accessories, breads and ornaments, honey bee, food products and hand-made jewelries, cherry blossoms, Christmas decors etc.

The fest also featured workshop, live demonstration on art, traditional Banana seeds, Necklaces, women Ornamental hip & belt, Traditional Bead works, Contemporary Brad work were demonstrated by Phaoniu Shio, Angon & co, Avina Nyuthe & Atsu Nguthe, Manle & co, Longtsula & co.

The fest will also feature artistes like 15 Mahila IR band, Arenchenla Walling, Konthunglo Ngullie, Thejakhrienuo Angel Suohu, Holinla Yim and Angulie Pochury for evening performance.