NTMB celebrates Paonii festival in Bangalore
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, June 07 2024:
In a vibrant display of culture, food and knowledge of the community, Poumai Naga Tsiidoumai Me Bangalore (PNTMB) celebrated the Paonii festival for the first time outside Manipur on June 5 .
The event held at All Saints' Church, Bangalore was co-sponsored by Weaver Bees and designed by Visual Perception and drew a diverse crowd eager to experience the traditions and flavours of Poumai Naga community.
Paonii, traditionally celebrated to mark the beginning of planting season is deeply rooted in the agricultural lifestyle of Poumai Nagas.
Symbolizing gratitude, prosperity and communal spirit, the festival includes rituals, folk dances, songs, sports and a feast.
The urban celebration retained these elements, cre-ating a vibrant and colourful atmosphere.
Attendees enjoyed music from various bands and artists, wrestling matches, fun activities and a delicious feast featuring traditional Poumai Naga dishes.
Many dignitaries and guests from across the city came and experienced Poumai culture.
They enjoyed the rhythm of songs, diverse food offerings, fun activities, and the communal gathering.
The highlight of the evening was the grand wrestling match, which saw Hriipu (Tungam) emerged as the winner with Dalounii (Khongdei) finishing runner-up and Nam-moh (Khongdei) and Paveio (Tungam) jointly securing the third place.
For many Poumai Nagas living in Bangalore, the celebration was a poignant reminder of home and an opportunity to instil sense of cultural identity among the younger generation.
PNTMB also crowned Abigail N Mozhui as Miss Paonii 2024 and Saripong Jamir as Mr Paonii 2024, both from Nagaland.