Mao tribe's Pfosemei Saleni festival commences
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30 2011:
Pfosemei Saleni Festival, an annual traditional festival of Mao community was kicked off at Pudunamei village yesterday.
The festival which would continue for five days is being jointly organised by the Pfosemei Students' Union and the Pfosemei Youth Organisation and hosted by Pudunamei village.
The inaugural function was graced by Nagaland MLA KV Pusa, Pfosena Union president LB Pani and Mao chief Kaikho as chief guest, special guest and president respectively.
The inaugural ceremony was also attended by a large number of people from neighbouring Nagaland villages of Viswema, Kizoma and Khedima, and surrounding villages of Mao including public leaders and church leaders.
Sounding of trumpet and presentation of traditional dance and music were the main features of the inaugural ceremony.
Giving key-note address of the festival which is being celebrated under the theme "To Strengthen Culture", secretary of the Pudunamei Students' Union Adani said that the primary objective of celebrating Saleni festival is consecration of the male population.
|
On the first day of the festival, male children born this year were sanctified by their fathers.
On the third day, married women would be invited like Ningol Chakkouba festival of the Meiteis and the women would be gifted rice and animals.
In his address, Nagaland MLA KV Pusa said that the Naga society underwent drastic changes in its culture and tradition due to introduction of western political system and Christianity.
The introduction of the western political system divided the Nagas under different political boundaries while adoption of Christianity impelled the Nagas to embrace alien culture and customs.
On the positive side, the dual force of western political system and Christianity ignited and strengthened Naga consciousness.
The changes brought about by the western political system and Christianity helped Nagas to understand their own identity and this paved the way for Naga national movement, Pusa stated.
However, the goals set by the leaders of the Naga national movement still appears distant.
Nevertheless, the idea of being a Naga would never diminish and it would remain until a new social order is realised within the existing political system.
For this reason, it is essential to find a political solution for the Nagas without affecting other communities, and also without involvement of any third party, the Nagaland MLA asserted.
KV Pusa donated Rs 1.10 lakh to the organising committee of the festival.