2nd 'Hordrawon' festival commences at Paorei
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, October 10 2023:
The 2nd Hordrawon/ Cosmos Festival commenced amid a vibrant display of multi-hued flowers at Paorei village, situated 28 km from Ukhrul town, under Chingai AC of the district on Tuesday.
A colourful array of cosmos flowers lining both sides of the roadway leading to the village greeted enthusiastic attendees from across the district.
Well-maintained gardens within the village captivated visitors, drawing them to appreciate the bloom and capture the moment through photographs.
The inaugural ceremony of the festival was held with Ukhrul DFO Shanngam Shaliwo as chief guest and Additional SP Ringthing Hongchui as guest of honour.
Shaliwo inaugurated the event amidst the singing of Tangkhul Naga National anthem "Hi Pharasang kahai ngalei," in the presence of Phungc-ham headman Wungnaongam Horam and Paorei VDC chairman Chinaongam Yangya, along with other dignitaries.
In his speech, Shanngam Shaliwo appreciated the villagers for their efforts in maintaining cleanliness and nurturing the cosmos flowers within the village.
He urged the locals to heed the message the cosmos imparts to human beings, stating that the message should be to testify its beauty within a short span, akin to humans.
He added, "Despite the short span of its lifetime, cosmos shine in their mighty bloom.
Let us also take a cue from this message and shine ourselves just like cosmos at our prime time".
Speaking on the occasion, ASP Ringthing Hongchui referenced the World Happiness Index published in the 2023 publication, citing Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, and others as the happiest nations in the world.
He highlighted the factors and criteria that led to the inclusion of these nations, such as happiness, healthcare facilities, generosity/philanthropy, absence of corruption, and social responsibility.
Hongchui emphasised that happiness cannot be achieved without sufficient income generation among the people.
He stressed that for individuals to attain happiness in their lives, they must strive to ensure adequate income generation through proper application of education.
Sufficient economy comes from proper application of education and its diverse skills, vital for the well being and happiness of the people, he added.
However, Hongchui lamented that lack of education and proper income generation among the locals has become a hindrance to their happiness.
He called for diversification of livelihood activities and ventures, urging the locals to find ways to secure their income through the celebration of the cosmos festival.
Adding depth to the celebration, local artistes presented songs expressing admiration for the cosmos flower and the significance of the bloom, along with the village's heritage, while calling for its preservation for future generations.
As part of the festival, which will continue till October 14, there are sales and exhibitions of indigenous flowers, handicrafts, organic vegetables, and seasonal delicacies.
Additionally, a spot painting competition will be organised during the festival.
Notably, Paorei village is nurturing its Phakharok Orchid Park, spread across a sprawling 10 acres, an idea conceived long ago by late Dr Horam in the 1990s.The park is maintained by the Village Development Council (VDC) of the village.