1
Watsü Mungdang officers and Aowli Benjongmung 2019 organizers while addressing a press conference at their office chamber, December 7. (Morung photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | December 7
Apex Ao women organization Watsü Mundang will be organizing its flagship event called “Aowli Benjongmung” on December 12 and 13 at Imkongmeren Sports Complex, Mokokchung. This event was conceptualized and accepted by Watsü Mungdang during its 21st general conference in 2017 and resolved to organize it annually. Elaborating on the meaning of the festival, convener of the Aowli Festival 2019, Dr. Anungla Aier explained that “Aowli” means “sustainable” and that “Aowli Festival” means a festival to celebrate and promote sustainability or sustainable practices.
Addressing a press conference at the Watsü Mungdang office here today, Dr. Aier said that the Aowli Benjongmung 2019 would begin at 10:00 am on December 12 and declared that the two-day event would be plastic and alcohol free. Member of Nagaland Public Service Commission, Chubala Wai is set to declare the fest open as chief guest. Dr. Imlirenla Walling, a member of the organizing committee said that the event is a not-for-profit event and that it was being organized with the objective of promoting sustainable practices at the grassroots level ranging from encouraging preservation of indigenous seeds to identifying, grooming and promoting local talents in various fields. “We are investing our time and energy and even our personal resources for the sake of our future generations,” she added.
Watsü Mungdang has also adopted the word “Aowli” as the brand name for anything produced and promoted by them. The organisers said they have been undertaking a number of initiatives throughout the year and the Aowli Benjongmung is in effect the culmination of a yearlong series of activities contained within the whole concept of the festival.
Apart from facilitating an interface between various sections of the Ao society to come together to learn from each other, Aowli Benjongmung also envisages to create opportunities for them to sell, purchase, promote and showcase their local products and services. Besides, it is offers to provide the platform for the meeting of minds where ideas can be shared for the betterment of society.
An array of activities has been planned for the Aowli Festival 2019. Highlighting some of the events planned for the event, they said that special focus has been given to the preservation and propagation of indigenous seeds. It was also revealed that the Watsü Mungdang have also compiled a book on the indigenous seeds in Ao Naga which will be released during the festival. An indigenous seeds festival will also be held as part of the festival. Complementing the seeds festival will be a competition on indigenous methods of cooking and sale of organic vegetables, crops and local livestock.
Sale of handicrafts, decorative items and other hand crafted works, sale of varieties of flower plants and cut flowers, a rice and food fest, sale of homemade cakes, biscuits, cookies, pickles and other consumables, barbeque as well as women’s football, folk dances, fun fair and model display of different types and methods of farming.
The festival will also include Mister and Miss Aowli contest for 6 to 10 year olds and children’s music extravaganza which is being organized with the objective of confidence building and identifying young talents. Through the Aowli Festival, Watsü Mungdang also aims to herald Christmas festivity in Mokokchung. As such, there will be an advent Christmas event, sing-along Christmas songs and Christmas tree competition.
