ITANAGAR, Feb 26: Nyokum Yullo was celebrated across the state on Monday by the Nyishi community with traditional fervour and high spirits. It is celebrated annually to invoke blessings from the higher spirits for good harvest and communal harmony.
At Itanagar: Assam Irrigation Minister Ranjit Dutta, who attended the Nyokum celebrations at the Nyokum Lapang ground here, exuded confidence that the decades-old boundary dispute between the two BJP-ruled states can be resolved through “meaningful” dialogue.
‘Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has been initiating measures with his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu to hammer out a permanent solution to the border issue’, said Dutta.
Clad in a Nyishi Bopia (headgear), Dutta, who attended the festival on behalf of Sonowal, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is serious about the dispute between North East states, so is Sonowal. The CM has already initiated a similar dialogue with Nagaland counterpart T R Zeliang,” he said.
Stating that “divisive forces” were trying to “destabilize peace” in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, Dutta called upon the people of both the states to thwart such attempts.
“Till 1978 both the states were under one administrative unit of bor Axom (Greater Assam). The people of both the states since time immemorial have been maintaining cordial relations,” the minister said.
Dutta called upon the Assamese people staying in Arunachal Pradesh to uphold the age-old relations through cultural exchange programmes.
Lauding the Nyishi community for preserving the age-old rich culture and traditions, Dutta also exhorted the elderly people in the state to pass on the baton of tradition and culture to the younger generations.
Nyokum Yullo Celebration Committee chairman Ha Tatu, on his part, said the presence of a minister from neighbouring Assam will cement the ties between the people of both the states.
At Pachin: PHE&WS & IPR Minister Bamang Felix gave a clarion call to the Nyishis to strictly honour traditions of Nyokum Yullo and stop its commercialization.
Addressing the Nyokum Yullo festival celebration as chief guest here, he said the festival aims at greater welfare of the entire humanity and its commercialization would spoil its traditional value.
He suggested planting 21 saplings to mark 21 years of celebration here. If 100 committee members plant 100 saplings each, one lakh trees could make this Himalayan state more greener, he reasoned.
Attending as special guest, RD, PR & IPR Parliamentary Secretary Mama Natum said, “Nyokum would be celebrated as long as the universe survives. It is our culture and tradition. Its loss would amount to losing our identity”.
Social activist Kipa Kaney lauded the Longtey-Lotey Nyokum Yullo Celebration Committee for zealously guarding the age-old customs and traditions.
He continued to lucidly highlight the mythology -right from the conception of the universe to birth of Abo Tani.
PHE&WS Secretary Ajmal Haque and TRIHMS Dean Dr Jaikumar P, as special guests, among others were felicitated on the occasion that included traditional games and sports and cultural presentations.
At Nirjuli: Attending the Nyokum Yullo festival celebration at Nyokum Niya Hall here, Minister for Tourism and Tax and Excise, Jarkar Gamlin lauded the youths of the Nyishi community for maintaining diversity of different communities and celebrating the festival with a feeling of oneness.
Making specific reference for keeping the customary rituals of festivals alive, Gamlin said, “When you respect others culture and tradition, you receive the similar gesture from them.” He further appealed to the students not to discriminate each other in the name of tribe, colour, caste, tradition and custom.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Paknga Bage urged the youths to create awareness regarding preservation and promotion of their respective dialect and tradition among the younger generation.
Later, both Gamlin and Bage launched a mobile application (Nyishi World) created by one Nabam Rikam. The application can be installed in all android mobile phones wherein details of the Nyishi community would be available.
At Miao: The Nyishi community residing in Miao and Jairampur subdivisions of Changlang district celebrated Nyokum Yullo with much zeal and enthusiasm.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Changlang ZPC Jowkhong Singpho said that festivals were a medium to keep alive the age old cultural practices.
He said that materialistic things have brought lot of changes but we ought to remain cultured which is the way to uphold our identity. He also called upon the younger generation to focus on the importance of culture and strive for advancement of society.
Miao EAC AJ Lungphi, public leader Somlung Mosang, Namrata Bhatt,CO, S Ronrang, Principal GHSS Miao,Tasi Darang, SDPO Miao and T Doke EE RWD Miao also spoke and appreciated the Nyishi community for coming together and celebrating their major festival at Miao, which they opined could become a medium of cultural exchange.
Earlier, the festival flag was hoisted by Chairman Nyukom Yullo Celebration Committee Miao Er Likha Tatum. He later read out the Nyukom Yullo mythology.
The famous buya dance was also performed wherein all the invited guests joined in the merriment.
At Jullang: State BJP president Tapir Gao along with WRD Chief Engineer Likar Angu attended the third Nyokum Yullo celebration at Jullang.
Joining the celebration, Gao stressed on the daily use of local dialects instead of speaking in Hindi and English.
He urged people not to forget the ancestral beliefs and tradition bestowed decades ago.
Responding to one-point memorandum, Gao also assured to initiate construction of the Jollang Nyokum ground boundary wall.
Director of Don Bosco, Father CC Jose was conferred life time achievement award by the committee for his support and initiative in celebrating Nyokum Yullo at Jullang since 1996. Father Jose also delivered his speech in Nyishi.
Jullang Nyokum Yullo celebration committee chairman Tarh Tarak and WRD Chief Engineer Likar Angu also spoke on the occasion.
Later, prizes were distributed to the winner of various sporting and cultural events and other literary activities. Large number of people, especially young children turned up to join the celebration.
At Tani Happa: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee President and former MP Takam Sanjoy joined the Nyokum celebration at Tani Hapa under Sunajuli-Pichola Panchayat of Banderdewa circle.
Cultural troupes along with large number of public from Assam joined the celebration.
Addressing the function, Sanjoy said that Nyokum is a symbol of the Nyishi community and every one irrespective of faith and belief should participate in it.
He was excited to see huge presence of Assam community and appealed to them maintain the same tempo. “The massive participation of our brothers and sisters from Assam in Nyokum Yullo celebration will further cement the relation between the two states,” he said.
At Kimin: Urban Development Minister Nabam Rebia and Secretary Science & Technology Gaken Ete participated in the celebration held at the Subansiri stadium. Traditional rituals and the buya dance were performed on the occasion.
At Banderdewa: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir attended the Nyokum Yullo celebration held here at Banderdewa and said that Arunachal is a mini India as people from every part of the country peacefully live together here. He also said bamboo crafts made in the state are of best quality.
Papum Pare district unit BJP president Tana Hali Tara also spoke on the purpose of celebrating Nyokum.
At Doimukh: Parliamentary Secretary for Hydro Power Phosum Khimhum attended the Nyokum Yullo celebration at Doimukh and visited the ‘Nyub Namlo’ (the priest house), where he listened to the prayers and witnessed a ritualistic sacrifice of Mithun to the almighty Donyi Polo.
He stressed on the need to teach children about the indigenous culture and urged parents to take the responsibility in this regard.
People from all walks of life turned up to witness the celebration. The festival showcased various traditional sports, cultural display, and community feast, along with rituals performed by the priest.
At Koloriang: Local MLA Pani Taram attended the Nyokum Yullo celebration in presence of huge gathering of local people. He took part in the buya dance and witnessed the cultural extravaganza performed by several cultural troops of the area.
At Roing: The Nyishi community residing in Lower Dibang Valley district celebrated its 25th Nyokum festival celebration here at the multipurpose hall. The silver jubilee Nyokum was celebrated with much pomp and traditional gaiety.
The celebration was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Mukut Mithi, DC Dibang Valley Tamune Miso, ADC Roing Chesta Yadav, GS IMCLS Rao Dele, and many others.
