Sports promote healthy body and mind: MLA
ITANAGAR, Feb 18: “Games and sports and co-curricular activities help in the progress of health and mind,” said local MLA Techi Kaso after kicking off the games and sports activities of the 39th Nyokum Yullo celebration at the Nyokum Lapang ground here on Sunday.
The MLA also inaugurated the food stalls at the festival ground.
“The Nyishi community has been celebrating Nyokum festival since time immemorial, and the festival is a symbol of the Nyishi identity,” Kaso said.
He urged people to take active part in the celebration, and prayed for peace, progress and prosperity for all.
Sports Association of Arunachal Chairman Bamang Tago, who had earlier in the morning flagged off the marathon race from KV-II to the Nyokum Lapang ground, urged the people to exercise or play sports to stay healthy.
“Games and sports are being given a lot of encouragement by the state government, which is supporting all types of games and sports and even fully sponsoring sportspersons for national and international events,” Tago said, and urged sportspersons to avail the job reservation facility by performing outstandingly in their chosen sports.
The festival’s organising chairman, Tassar Taro, said the festival would feature several games and sports events, including traditional games and sports, besides cultural and literary activities, food stalls, cultural competitions, and Miss Nyokum and Ane Nyokum contests.
The celebration will continue till 26 February, he said.
Meanwhile, the sporting events of the Jollang Nyokum Yullo celebration also started on Sunday.
Other events like cultural programmes, beauty contests and rituals will take place from 23 February onwards.