UPPER SILATOO, Feb 18: The Mising community of Namsai district celebrated their main agricultural festival, Ali-Aye Ligang, with pomp and gaiety at the festival ground here on Sunday.
Addressing the participants, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein hailed the Mising community for proudly preserving their rich traditions and culture.
“Indigenous festivals reflect the cultural identity we have inherited from our forefathers,” he said. “We must continue to observe our local festivals to keep alive this identity, and must transfer this legacy to the younger generations.”
Emphasizing the need to preserve culture, he said, “If we do not practice and preserve our culture, we will lose our uniqueness and identity.”
Informing that the WRD department is carrying out flood protection work along the bank of the Noa Dihing river at Silatoo, using the new ‘sheet piling’ technology, Mein directed the department to expedite the remaining work and complete it before the river water rises.
Highlighting the developmental activities he has brought to his home constituency, Mein said several road development works are also being taken up this year.
Responding to a memorandum submitted by the festival organizing committee, Mein assured to provide fund for construction of a cultural hall along with an entry gate in Upper Silatoo and in Mahadevpur.
He said he would look into the other demands “in a phase-wise manner.”
Earlier, Mein inaugurated the upgraded government secondary school here, and promised to provide fund for “extension of 10 classrooms, construction of the boundary wall, and electricity supply to the upgraded school.” He instructed the RWD executive engineer to immediately submit an estimate in this regard.
Namsai Deputy Commissioner RK Sharma urged the people to take up schemes under agriculture and allied sectors to augment their income. He said the flood protection measures being undertaken have instilled a sense of security among the people.
The DC informed that the families which were affected during the 2015-16 flood were properly rehabilitated, and that the administration could run the relief camp for more than three months with logistical support from the DCM.
Among others, Mising Dirbi Kebang president SK Patir also spoke. Central Ali-Aye Ligang celebration committee secretary Tongke Yein highlighted the festival’s mythology.
Colourful traditional dances were performed by various cultural troupes. (PRO)
