Ahthibung | January 17 : Minister for health & family welfare Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu today stressed on the need to preserve and promote culture and traditions in a wider and rightful manner.
The minister however stated that while preserving the culture and traditions one should not go back to headhunting or worship stone or rain god as practiced by forefather in the past but now one should practice and promote culture and traditions in the rightful manner as Christians.
The minister asserted that when one loss vehicles, houses, or other properties one has loss something but when one loss identity, everything is lost. In this, he called upon the people to preserve their culture and traditions to maintain one’s identity.
Gracing the state level Mimkut festival celebration here, Azo also challenged the Kuki community to preserve their culture and traditions as it is the only way one can identify one identity. Songs and dances from various cultural troupes add colour to the festivity of Mimkut festival.
Bringing greeting from the state government and Chief Minister’s office, Azo prayed to Almighty God to bless the Kuki community to have a bountiful harvest, and also bring joy, love and prosperity to them through Mimkut festival.
Touching on road shows in the state, the minister informed that the primary objective is to bring the people closer to the government and to bring people to the door steps of the government so that people can understand the policies and schemes of the government and benefit from it.
He also said that another area of the road show is to promote the culture and traditions. Later, the minister visited the various stalls and the ongoing health mela being organized by the Health & Family Welfare department at Athibung Local Ground in coinciding with the Mimkut festival.
Delivering a short speech, Zeliang Officers Association, Nagaland (ZOAN) president Pausui Zelaing called upon the Kukis and Zeliangs work together so as to bring Peren district at par with the rest of the advanced districts in the state.
Secretary, Mission Director, NRHM, T. Limsong, IAS acted as the chief host of the festival.
Highlighting the significance of the festival, Mimkut celebration committee chairman T. Lamkhothang said the job’s ear (MIM) is the last of the harvesting yields of the Kuki villagers in Nagaland. It is a days of thanksgiving to the Almighty for His unfailing harvesting gift to Kukis. The basic concept behind such observances is that the toiling villagers has to have a short respite and recreation after a year’s work has been reaped and before the new year’s work begun. The community jointly put their heads together to reciprocate by way of cultural rites and rituals.
The festival is also marked by drinking, merry making, dancing, sporting an feasting for a continuous periods of three days; not forgetting to organized in allotting the village folks from all walks of life to participate in the traditional games and sport of the KUT festival. In this, the rich and the poor, young and old share their state of emotions together.
Earlier, Pellhang village chief Laljakhup Singson offered traditional blessing to Mimkut festival while welcome address was delivered by Kuki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) president Asat Doungel. Introduction of dignitaries done by special secretary home, L. Singsit IPS while vote of thanks was proposed by Alet Hangsing.
The celebration was followed by a special seminar on mother & child care and immunization and impact of climate change in agriculture, Miss Kut Contest and fashion show.
~ MeX
