Aoleang celebrated with festivities

Alemtemshi Jamir being traditionally escorted during the Aoleang festival Kisama

Hundreds of people from the Konyak community residing in and around Kohima thronged the Bamboo Hall Kisama Wednesday to celebrate its premier festival Aoleang with chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir as the chief guest.

The celebration showcased the rich cultural heritage with indigenous dances, songs and games combined with the modern music talents. The crowd also witnessed the performance of deputy commissioner Kohima, Honje Konyak who had enthusiastically joined the cultural troupes.

Addressing the gathering, chief secretary Alemtemshi said Mon district inhabited by the Konyak community had rich mineral deposits and potential agricultural lands. He said that with all nature’s bounty, Mon district could become one of the most prosperous districts.

He also pointed out the Konyak community was has the single largest tribe in Nagaland and their lands extended upto Arunachal Pradesh in the north and Burma in the east. He exuded confidence that the Konyaks would lead the Nagas one day. While lauding the creativity and versatile skills of the Konyak people, Jamir however suggested that the community should talk less of its “backwardness” by getting rid of its “weaknesses”. He urged the participants to be prepared for a change with the passage of time.

Earlier Konyak Union (KU) president P. Longang Konyak delivered the welcome address while deputy commissioner Kohima Honje Konyak briefed the crowd on the significance of the day. Government officials, federating units of ENPO and others also joined the celebration.