Advisor, Mhathung Yanthan addressing the gathering during the Tokhu Emong Festival held at Dimapur on November 7. (DIPR Photo)
Morung Express News
Wokha | November 7
The Tokhu Emong Festival, a significant post-harvest celebration for the Lotha Naga community, was celebrated with fervor and unity across various regions in Nagaland on November 7. Wokha, Dimapur, and Bhandari each hosted their own festivities, drawing together leaders, community members, and cultural enthusiasts to honor Lotha traditions and values.
In Wokha, the festival was marked by the presence of Nagaland’s Lok Sabha Member of Parliament, S. Supongmeren Jamir, who was the special guest at the event held at the Public Ground. Jamir launched an ambulance donated to the district, enhancing healthcare resources in the area. During his address, he reminded attendees of the festival's deeper meaning, emphasizing forgiveness, unity, and the importance of reconciling differences. He urged the Lotha community to reflect on the core values of Tokhu Emong, which extend beyond mere celebration to embody a spirit of support for one another. He also highlighted the role of the Lotha people in Nagaland’s development, praising their contributions to politics, bureaucracy, and entrepreneurship, while stressing the need for responsible leadership and positive competition within the community.
The celebration featured cultural performances, including traditional dances, Naga wrestling, and a tug-of-war, reflecting the lively spirit of the festival. Jamir concluded his speech with a call for unity, stating that the success of the Lotha people benefits not just their community, but all of Nagaland.
In Dimapur, the Tokhu Emong Festival 2024 took place at the State Stadium, with MLA and Agriculture Advisor, Mhathung Yanthan, as the special guest. Yanthan conveyed the greetings of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and emphasized the festival’s themes of gratitude, forgiveness, and cultural preservation. He encouraged the Lotha community to continue using their native dialect and to engage in cultural practices that strengthen unity across communities. K. Libanthung Lotha, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary, served as the guest of honor, delivering the Tokhu Honour Greetings and reinforcing the festival’s message of reconciliation and community growth.
The Kohima Lotha Hoho celebrated Tokhhu Emong at the NSF solidarity park with MLA & Chairman DPDB Y. Mhombemo Humtsoe as the special guest.
Humtsoe urged the members present at the festival to retrospect how the elders and the tribe milestones, contributing to the society in the past and stressed on the need to work together for the growth and progress of the Lothas.
The celebration in Dimapur featured traditional Lotha cultural performances, including a folk song by Dimapur Tsüngiki Ekhüng and a Tokhu pounding song by Kyong Colony, Dimapur, adding vibrancy to the event. The day concluded with a benediction by Rev. Fr. Philip Yanpvüthüng Hümtsoe, marking a memorable and spiritually uplifting end to the festivities.
In Bhandari, the 45th Tokhu Emong Festival was celebrated under the theme "Marching Forward in Unity" at the Bhandari Local Ground. T. Yanpvunthung Kikon, NCS, Additional Secretary of the Department of School Education & SCERT, was the special guest for the occasion. Kikon urged the community to embrace the values of forgiveness, love, and unity, while highlighting the importance of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Lotha people. The event included traditional dance and folk songs presented by Eleo Hoho Bhandari and Bhandari village, followed by a spirited tug-of-war, where 45 Assam Raffles emerged as the champions.
