Editor,
Festivals like Holi and Diwali are celebrated joyously across India, transcending regional and religious boundaries. While deeply rooted in Hindu traditions, they have beautifully evolved into shared cultural phenomena. Today, they are widely embraced as vibrant celebrations of Indian identity, focusing on unity, light, and community, rather than strictly religious rituals.
Similarly, the Mopin festival holds this exact unifying potential for the Galo tribe. By emphasising Mopin as a celebration of shared cultural heritage rather than strictly a religious observance, it can foster a profound sense of inclusivity. Shifting the focus to the beautiful, shared traditions of Mopin, the rhythmic Popir dances, the smearing of rice flour (iti), and the celebration of agricultural abundance, will ensure 100% participation from all members of the Galo community, irrespective of their individual faiths. Embracing Mopin as a unified cultural heartbeat is the most effective way to revive, protect, and proudly pass down Galo culture and traditions to future generations.
To be truly Galo is to proudly embrace our heritage. It means wearing our traditional attire – the tango and galey, adorning our Bolup, and carrying our rache and igin (baskets). It is about speaking our beautiful Galo dialects fluently and keeping our ancestors’ wisdom alive through traditional cultivation, fishing, the intricate weaving of the gale, and the craftsmanship of the eken, etc. Our true identity is rooted in these shared cultural practices, rather than our individual religious faiths.
Faith is a personal journey for the soul and the afterlife. In contrast, our traditions and festivals are the living heartbeat of our tribe, passed down lovingly from generation to generation. Our culture must continue eternally, celebrated with vibrant energy and the unified participation of our people.
Therefore, I earnestly appeal to all my Galo brothers and sisters: let us not allow personal faith to divide us. We must see through the political motives that seek to create rifts within our community and choose to stand together instead.
For a tribe like ours, whose very dialects are facing the tragic threat of extinction, unity is no longer just a choice; it is our survival. Let us stand as one proud family, protecting our language, celebrating our heritage, and ensuring that the unbreakable spirit of the Galo people echoes for generations to come.
This year, let us celebrate our rich heritage and culture like never before. I earnestly appeal to every member of the Galo tribe to come forward and wholeheartedly join in the upcoming Mopin festival.
I strongly request every single Galo village to proudly organise Mopin celebrations in their respective communities. Let the joyous rhythms of the Popir dance echo in every corner of our land.
Our goal this year is absolute unity. We are aiming for 100% participation from the Galo people. Let no family, friend, or neighbour be left out as we gather to pray for a bountiful harvest, peace, and prosperity.
Let us stand united to honour our beautiful traditions and make this year’s Mopin a truly historic celebration.
Gedak Taipodia