Lui-Ngai-Ni fosters common thread
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy The Hornbill Express

Senapati, February 15 2015: Celebrating the unique cultural festival of the 16 tribes of Nagas of Manipur, Lui-Ngai-Ni was organized at Senapati public ground today.

The festival was hosted by Naga Peoples' Organization, Senapati.

Traditionally seed sowing festival or merry making is held to invoke the blessings of the creator on the seed crops by showing devotion through folk dances, songs and rituals and to reawaken their past glories and values for the years to come.

Since the 'seed sowing festival' is common to all the Naga tribes and celebrated simultaneously during the onset of spring, the Naga tribes christened it "Lui-Ngai-Ni" in 1987 .

This year L Dikho, MLA 48 (ST) Mao AC was the chief host with the NPO.

Chief guest Kiyanilie Peseyie, Minister of Social Security & Welfare, Govt of Nagaland, guest of honor ST Nunghlung Victor, MLA 41(ST) AC Chandel, special invitees LB Sona, chairman, Zomi Council, Dr John Pulamte, president, Hmar Inpui, P Chuba Ozukum, president Naga Hoho, Tongpang Ozukum, president NSF, speaker of UNC, ATSUM officials, headmen and other dignitaries solemnized the auspicious event.

Cultural item being staged during Lui-Niga-Ni festival

Folk songs, cultural dances from various tribes such as Poumai, Inpui, Anal, Kharam, Zeliangrong, Chiru, Moyon, Mao, Lamkang, Maram, Chothe, Thangal, Maring, Tangkhul, Tarao and Mongsang marked the festival.

In his presidential address, UNC president Gaidon Kamei asserted that 'the socio-cultural and ethno-political unity and solidarity inspires us a common future.

So, in spite of the absence of completely identical cultures, dialects, belief systems there exist a common thread among the Naga tribes of Manipur and elsewhere in Naga family.

We have immense commonality." Gaidon urged 'the Naga community to work for unbending unity in true spirit of our cherished and common political aspiration and hope, which will keep stirring our aspiration' .

The UNC president also urged all to ponder over "our adversaries which hiss out venom of separatism, groupism, self-interest and express it against the oneness of the Naga family" and added, "let us stand firm lest our adversaries get the upper hand." He also shared with the people the hope for 'early solution to the decade-old Naga political problem in time bound manner with political will under the new political dispensation in Delhi under the dynamic and able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi'.

In his concluding message he urged the people to strengthen unity and to let the spirit of Lui-Ngai- Ni inspire everyone.

Expressing gratitude at being invited for the festival, Kiyanilie Peseyie prayed that the leaders sow the best seed and reap the harvest in abundance with the blessings of Almighty.

He urged 'the Nagas to join hands and look forward to building peace, unity and prosperity in the motherland and by forgetting the bad stories of the past'.

He added that it is not outsiders who will bring change but the people through hard work.

Giving a solidarity message LB Sona greeted the people on behalf of all the Zomi tribes which are scattered all over the North East region.

Appreciating the efforts of the UNC in maintaining harmony in society and promoting unity he urged the UNC to continue to work for society.

In the words of the Speaker of Naga Hoho "silver or gold I have none, but what I have is many brothers and sisters living together in this beautiful land.

We are one, I am proud of you.

Our traditions, culture, rich attires, food habits, dances, folktales, music are all the same and interwoven." He claimed that the festival theme "Sowing good will, reaping understanding" is the most relevant theme in the present context.