KHONSA, Apr 11: Agriculture and DoTCL Minister Wangki Lowang hailed Tutsa community for perfectly preserving and promoting their cultural traditions.
Attending the Pongtu festival of Tutsa community at Khonsa on Tuesday, Lowang said traditional literatures, like folklores/folktales are in danger of dying out with deaths of old folk singers and tellers. He urged the research scholars to find ways to preserve and promote it.
He also emphasized the need for inclusion of Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts in tourism circuit.
MLA cum Chairman, APEDA Wanglam Sawin urged the Tutsa community to preserve, protect and promote age-old culture and traditions. Sawin said that folk songs and folktales and the village council/ chieftainship system which are being practiced from time immemorial must be taught to the younger generation.
Wanglin Lowangdong, MLA-cum-Adviser to CM also appealed to Tutsas, Wanchos and Noctes community to preserve and promote their traditional culture which were passed on to them by their forefathers. Lowangdong said that festival create sense of oneness, brotherhood and unity among people.
TPFC president Lomsong Kanglom read out the the mythology of Pongtu Kuh.
Nampong MLA cum Parliamentary Secretary Laisam Simai also attended the festival.
The celebration was marked by colourful traditional dances performed by villagers of Kothung and Tutnu and Tutsa modern mega dance performed by young girls of Tutsa.
Earlier the celebration began with Rangtaam rituals led by Chief of Tutnu in presence of the invited dignitaries in Tutsa’s Pang (Morong hut).
The programme was attended, among others byDeputy Commissioner Tirap PN Thungon, Commandant Officer 16 Assam Rifles Col. Robin Kumar, former MLA Kamthok Lowang, ZPC Sontung Lowang.
Pongtu festival was also celebrated with much pomp and traditional gaiety at Changlang on Wednesday.
Attending the festival in Changlang, Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, WRD, Geology & Mining Kamlung Mossang urged people to not mix religion with culture and called for preservation of the age-old culture and tradition.
Parliamentary Secretary (Hydropower) Phosum Khimhun advised the young generation to learn their mother tongue/languages, traditional songs and play and promote the traditional games and sports.
Parliamentary Secretary (DoTCL) Tesam Pongte said one of the main motives behind celebrating Pongtu festival centrally was to showcase the rich culture and traditions of Tutsa people.
Earlier, the festival started with unfurling of the festival flag and offering of prayer to almighty “Rangkhothak” and inauguration of ‘Romnok’.