Assam minister reiterates friendly relations with Arunachal

NAHARLAGUN, Apr 5: Mopin, the popular festival of Galo community was celebrated with pomp and traditional fervor across the state today.

While greeting the people of Arunachal in general and the Galos in particular, Agriculture Minister of Assam Atul Borah who attended the festival at Naharlagun today said that festivals foster love, harmony, brotherhood and peace adding that the popular Bihu of Assam was known all over the world for its exquisite colour, vibrancy and the message of love And peace it conveyed.

The chief guest recalled the age-old relations between the two neighbouring states and opined that all the people of the North-East should unite to build a strong, vibrant and self-reliant North-East. He said that all the differences if any should be hammered though meaningful dialogues.

The Minister conveyed the best wishes of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He later participated in the Popir dance and witnessed the traditional rituals and cultural competitions. 

The guest of honour, Tado Ete, senior citizen of the Galos passionately appealed the community especially the youths to spare no effort to zealously safeguard the rich traditional culture and heritage of the Galos.

Earlier, in his welcome address the President of the Mopin Celebration Committee, Kento Jini while throwing light on the significance of Mopin festival urged all to preserve the rich traditional culture of the Galos.

A number of eminent personalities from Assam and Arunachal participated in the festival. Popir dance, cultural programmes and a grand community feast mark the Mopin celebrations at Naharlagun on Wednesday.

At ITANAGAR,

The trend for commercializing the rich indigenous festivals of Arunachal Pradesh has become a matter of serious concern, Bamang Tago, Chairman, Sport Authority of Arunachal Pradesh said today. He said so while attending the Losi-Lore Mopin celebration as the Chief Guest at the 1st APP BN campus at Chimpu here.

“Commercializing our rich traditional festivals is not a very welcome trend. Our indigenous traditional festivals are also our identity. While there is an urgent need to preserve and propagate these traditional festivals, turning them into commercial festivals is not the right thing to do. Such things run the risk of distorting our tradition and culture, and once some distortion takes place it becomes difficult to undo them. Even selling indigenous and ethnic food items at exorbitant rates is not a good trend, and so is the tendency among a section to turn the festival grounds into gambling sites,” Tago said.

Calling upon senior citizens, community elders, community based organizations, research scholars, academicians, youth organizations and other stake-holders, Tago said while each of these segments have their respective role in preserving and propagating the rich heritage and tradition of the communities, all have to stand united to protect the indigenous rich cultural heritage and create an Arunachal Pradesh that belongs to all.

Earlier, Monya Riba, president of the Lose-Lore Mopin Celebration Committee (Chimpu unit) read out the mythological story of the Mopin festival. The event was also marked by colourful display of dances and songs by various cultural troupes comprising of young and old alike, and distribution of prizes to the winners of various games and sports competitions conducted by committee as part of the daylong colorful celebration.   

Among others who attended the function included Takey Ringu, IPS, AIGP, Tojo Karga, IPS, Commandant of the 1st APP BN, Papum Pare SP Tume Amo, Police Housing SE Kirki 

At ROING,

Mopin, the major festival of the Galo tribe celebrated the festival here today with traditional fervour and gaiety, festival goers in their traditional attires creating a mesmerizing sight at celebration sites.

Attending as Chief Guest, local MLA Mutchu Mithi, while narrating the contribution of great leaders and bureaucrats from Galo community in development and progress of the state, he termed the Galo community as advance tribe of state. He also requested the Galo community especially, DDSE-cum- President of the celebration committee, Ego Doye to instilled good moral values in children and pass on their knowledge and wisdom through education to the other tribes residing in the district. In his address he also urged the general public to be proactive in all issues related to developmental works and sought cooperate in all developmental activities undertaken in the district in particular and state as a whole.

Besides Popir group dance, various colourful cultural performances by Galo ane group and cultural items by various tribes were also presented.

Deputy Commissioner Lower Dibang Valley, Deepak Shinde, ADC Chesta Yadav, , SP Sanjay Kr. Sain,  were also present on the occasion.

At KAMBA,

Attending the occasion as chief guest, Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Home Pani Taram called upon the people of Galo community to protect and preserve their aged old tradition and culture.

“First and foremost duty of every individual is to protect and preserve their own culture,” asserted Taram, adding that one shouldn’t feel ashamed of telling the people about their origin, culture and tradition.

However, he categorically said that the religion and culture shouldn’t be mixed.

“Don’t lose your identity for the sake of religion,” he told the people, adding that India being a secular state every individual has right to preach, practice or adopt any religion but one shouldn’t forget his or her culture which is their real identity.

Stressing on the preservation of local dialect which according to him was doing away with changing time, Parliamentary Secretary strongly advocated for preservation and promotion of local dialects. He said that due to lack of written script the promotion and preservation of local dialect in the state is quite difficult.

In this regard, he assured that the state government will definitely support in preservation and promotion of local dialects.

Further, he also called upon the people especially youths to interact with each other in their own dialects while wearing traditional attire and costumes during the festive occasions.

While disclosing that the state government under the present Chief Minister Pema Khandu has adopted zero tolerance in education and health sector, the Parliamentary Secretary further informed that the state government is giving top priority to girls’ education and mentioned various schemes for the benefit of girl students.

Lauding local MLA-cum-Parliamentary Secretary for Sports & Youth Affairs, Nyamar Karbak, Taram said that due to his untiring efforts and persuasion, the state government has allocated adequate fund to start science stream at Donyi Polo Govt College, Kamki very soon.

Informing that only mantra of present state governments is team Arunachal and development for all, Parliamentary Secretary assured to redress all the grievances of people of 27^th Liromoba Constituency on priority basis. He however appealed the people not to put hindrances in developmental activities on mere petty differences.

While drawing his attention to the people on agri allied sectors for income generation, Parliamentary Secretary informed that the state government has initiated many schemes for farmers. He suggested the unemployed youths to avail those benefits for self sustenance. In this regard, he requested the concerned department to impart necessary trainings to the people so that they can start with integrated farming for income generation.

Taram, who is also holding the charge of Parliamentary Secretary for Home, further informed that the around 2900 posts have been created in police department and encouraged the unemployed youths of the area to try for the same.

He also informed that in order to solve the subject teacher and staff problem in education department the government in creating around 1500 posts soon.

Earlier, Dr Gojum Karlo Karbak, wife of local MLA, while attending the programme as guest of honour expressed her gratitude to the people of Kamba  for inviting her.

Among others present on the occasion were ADC Kamba, Principal DPGC Dr Rejir Karlo and senior officers of various departments.

Meanwhile, traditional dances and songs were performed during the day-long celebration which was followed by Popir dance and mass dance in traditional fervor.   

At YUPIA,

Deputy Commissioner Papum Pare Tai Kaye who attended the festival function as chief guest greeted the Galo brethrens on the occasion of Mopin festival and prayed the Donyi-Polo and Pinku Pinte to shower blessings on mankind for peace, progress and prosperity. He opined that there should be one multipurpose community hall at Yupia 
district headquarters which can be used for community based activities like festivals or any other 
important official works.

DMO Dr. Kampu Tasso who was also present on the occasion greeted the Galo community and said that Mopin is a beautiful festival that binds the 
people together for harmonious living. Traditional cultural programmes were presented by various 
cultural groups of Yupia.

At TEZU,

Minister , Animal Husbandry, Research and Art &

Culture, Dr. Mohesh Chai, graced the occasion as chief guest andDC Lohit Danish Ashraf attended as guest of honour with RSRajshekhar, Commandant 144 BRTF attending as special guestamong a host of other invitees.

Chai in his address spoke about the importance of Mopin festival which has preserved rich cultural heritage and traditional socio-cultural.

He highlighted the importance of preservation of culture and tradition urging youths to imbibe their legacy. He also stressed on communal harmony of all communities who have been living here since the inception terming Tezu as an example of unity in diversity.

‘The Galo community has been advancing in
every field and they are the frontrunners so the Mishmi communityshould also learn from them in the field of education and socio-economic life and better development,’ the minister said.

At DARAK,

Mopin was also celebrated with pomp and gaiety at Darak circle under 27^th Liromoba constituency. Minister PHED, IPR, Printing and Parliamentary Affairs Bamang Felix and Director Higher and Technical Education Dr Tejum Padu attended the occasion as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

Felix said that Mopin being an agriculture based festival is directly related to the environment which needs protection and preservation. He called upon the people to refrain from rampant destruction of flora and fauna. He said, unless you protect the environment you cannot expect for a bumper harvest.

Responding to a single point memorandum submitted by the public of Darak circle for provision of drinking water supply, Felix assured to sanction fund for the same, however, he categorically asked them to adopt a resolution to stop deforestation proposed project site.

He further appealed the people of area not to disturb in developmental activities initiated by the local MLA for the greater interest area.

Felix also informed that 27^th Liromoba constituency will witness lots of developmental activities under the local MLA as state government is giving due importance to the area.

Dr Tejum Padu highlighted the importance of Mopin festival. He also gave a detailed overview on mythology of the festival.

Local MLA-cum-Parliamentary Secretary for Sports & Youth Affairs Nyamar Karbak further announced Rs 1 crore for the construction of community hall at Darak. He also announced Rs 10 lakh for the renovation of rostrum at the general ground Darak. 

He also assured to take up with the state government for early sanctioning of fund for construction of bridge over Sibu River connecting Darak from rest of the constituency.

At PASIGHAT,

Galo community today celebrated Mopin festival with traditional gaietyat the EngoTakar Hall, Central Ganging, Pasighat by the Central Mopin Festival Celebration Committee (CMFCC), 2017. People from walks of life took part in the celebration with great enthusiasm and gutso. People exchanged greetings and presented traditional Popir-Dance and multi-color cultural program.

Clad in their colorful traditional dresses, applied ‘Ette’ (rice flour) to fellow revelers’ faces.

  Local MLA Kaling Moyong, ABK Secretary General (Apex) Bodong Yirang and Lok Sabha MP Ninong Ering graced the occasion as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour and Special Guest respectively among a host of dignitaries.

In his inaugural speech, MLA Kaling Moyong informed that the Pema Khandu led government giving special attention has allocated adequate funds for preservation and promotion of the state’s rich cultural heritage. ‘We should maintain the originality of rituals, ethos and values associated with the festivals though we move along with the wind of change in this era of modernization,’ stated the MLA.

 

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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