Nagaland celebrates spring festival: Moatsu

Kohima: People of Nagaland celebrated the 'Moatsu festival' or spring festival in a three-day long celebration with full fervour at Chuchuyimlang Village of Nagaland. Lt Gen (Retd) SM Mehta, CEO Hans Foundation, New Delhi was the chief guest at the event.

'Moatsu festival' is celebrated in the first week of May every year to seek blessings from the gods for a bumper harvest and was attended by more than 1,000 people from across the state.

Chubawati, President of Ao Senden, said, "It is a festival to mark God's blessings after the sowing season. Like most festivals, Moatsu is to seek Almighty's blessings." Moatsu Mong is observed after the sowing is completed providing villagers a period of recreation and entertainment after the tiresome work.

This year too, cultural troupes from other Naga tribes, including Chang (Yangpi village), Sangtam (Chungliyimti village) and Phom (Hukpang village), Adivasi and Jhumur dance troupe of tea-tribe of Assam participated in the festival. Other activities that marked the celebrations were: tug of war, cane and bamboo craft making and weaving by a group of elderly women.

Sanen Pongen, Chairman of Chuchuyimlang Village Council said, "We have been endeavouring to preserve this rich tradition and the spirit of our villagers to uphold this rich tradition which has been recognised by the government." He added, "The State Department of Tourism has designated Chuchuyimlang as the only 'Moatsu Destination' of the State."