Be a 'peace ambassador', Nemcha urges Thangal community on NG-Gee Pheo Tangnit 2020
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, January 04 2020:
Charming the auspicious Ng-Gee Pheo Tangnit, the New Year festival of the Thangal tribe, at Tumnoupokpi village in Kangpokpi District, Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen urged the Thangal community to be a peace ambassador of all community in the State.
The Ng-Gee Pheo or Anggee-Pheo Tangnit is the first of all festivals celebrated by the Thangal tribe in a year and it means the 'Festival of washing or cleansing of shield' where the males and their weapons of warfare and agricultural tools are cleansed to bring forth purity and good health of self, peace and prosperity in the village, victory in war and good harvest from agricultural activities.
The act of washing or cleansing symbolizes sanctification of the males, tools and weapons to wash away the past and embrace the future with a new spirit.
Nemcha Kipgen graced the Ng-Gee Pheo Tangnit 2020 organized by Tumnoupokpi Village Authority under the aegis of Thangal Union under the theme, "Retrospection Towards Culture' as chief guest while Haokholal Hangshing, Chairman, ADC Sadar Hills and YK Sailas Thangal, Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cote d' Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia attended as guest of honour and special guest while YK Kaping, president Thangal Union attended as functional President.
"As it is important to retrospect our culture, tradition and identity left behind by our forefathers, it is also equally important to retrospect their (forefathers) naturalness in maintaining peaceful and harmonious relationships through heartfelt love and understanding", asserted the Minister.
Stressing the importance of culture and identity, the Minister continued that we should not forget our identity and culture left behind by our forefathers because if we happen to forget it we will never succeed in our life.
To err is human and people need to learn the act of forgiveness and love another to live a happy life said the Minister while urging the gathering to love one another and cooperate to ensure a prosperous life and the need to dwell together peacefully.
Referring to the enmity that once ruled between the Kukis and the Nagas, Nemcha Kipgen said if we keep on looking back at the past, we could fall together into a pit where we would never climb up again.
She further appealed the Thangal community to promote peace and oneness, both in the hills and the valley.
The Minister also announced that Rs 25 lakh will be sanctioned for construction of a Community Hall at Tumnoupokpi Village.
Earlier, the auspicious celebration began with a mass procession of men folks from the tribe to drive out the evil from the village.
Cultural dances, folk songs, cultural games including tug of war and cultural items of Thangal tribe were showcased during the programme.
S Johnson, convener of the festival and several Executive Members and Members of ADC Sadar Hills also
attended the programme.