TEZU, Feb 15: The 50th Tamla Du festival of the Mishmi community (Tawra and Kaman) was celebrated here in Lohit district on Friday with great fervour and gaiety.
Attending the festival, Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Dr Mohesh Chai wished the Mishmi community good health, happiness and prosperity. He exhorted the members of the Tawra, Kaman and Idu Mishmi communities to uphold the essence of brotherhood among them.
“A festival is an occasion where one’s unique culture and tradition is celebrated,” Dr Chai said, adding that “one must always preserve one’s own culture and identity.”
“Arunachal is a land of festivals with numerous tribes celebrating festivals throughout the year. It gives me immense pleasure to see that, despite differences in cultures and traditions, all the tribes of Arunachal come together to celebrate festivals of any tribe with full festivity and gusto,” Dr Chai said.
He advised the youths of the community to concentrate on their studies, and to participate in competitive examinations, including the ones conducted by the UPSC.
“It is my long-cherished dream to see a person from the Mishmi community cracking the coveted UPSC examination,” he said, and asked the youths to take inspiration from Lower Dibang Valley DC Mitali Namchoom, who was also present at the celebration.
Dr Chai informed that a recent amendment has been made in the list of Scheduled Tribes to include the Kaman Mishmi tribe, which had been excluded from the earlier list.
MLA Mutchu Mithi in his address said “it is imperative for the Mishmi community inhabiting the four districts to always remain united for progress and prosperity.”
Emphasizing the importance of promoting and preserving one’s mother tongue, Mithi called upon the apex civil bodies of the Mishmi community to “take a definite resolution on preservation and promotion of the same.”
Namchoom in her address recalled her childhood memories while studying at the Tafragam VKV. She said that during her childhood the festival was the only occasion for her and her fellow students to get outside the school and get involved in the festivity.
Cultural presentations by local troupes, a fashion competition among children from the Mishmi community and display of traditional attires were the other highlights of the festival.
All present at the festival also took the pledge for ethical voting.
Earlier, in the morning, Dr Chai flagged off a mountain terrain cycling expedition titled ‘MTB Mishmi Hill Challenge 2018-19’ to Kibithoo, in the presence of Youth Affairs Director DK Dinglow. The team is expected to reach Kibithoo on 20 February.
Idu Mishmi Cultural Society president Ginko Linggi, Tezu SDO Kajal Karmakar and Lohit SP Dr DW Thongon also attended the festival.
