Wokha, 3 November: The second day of Tokhü Emong, the primer festival of the Lotha Nagas, featured indigenous games and was graced by Achumbemo Kikon, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Nagaland.
Kikon, who was the special guest of the event, emphasized that indigenous games are deeply ingrained in the Naga culture and encouraged both the youth and elders to embrace these traditions, with the goal of achieving international recognition for these games.
He highlighted the importance of training in indigenous activities like spear throwing and Naga-style wrestling, expressing optimism that the Naga community, with their unique physical attributes, could excel and bring home medals at the national level.
Kikon also emphasized that the initiation of indigenous games at this festival should not be confined to the Wokha Local ground alone but should be developed into a profession. He called on the community to preserve, promote, and popularize these indigenous games to gain wider recognition. He wished the participants competing in the games to exhibit the true spirit of Tokhü Emong.
Additionally, Kikon acknowledged the growing demand for stand-up comedy as a professional career and urged recognition and support for stand-up comedians.
The indigenous games on display during the event, which were overseen by Team Metamorphosis, an NGO from Wokha district, included tug of war, spear throwing, grease bamboo climbing, bamboo stilt walking (bamboo horse walk), and knitting.