The Lotha Students Union (LSU) has officially announced the organization of an Inter-School Cultural Competition, set to take place on October 4 and 5, 2024. The event will be hosted by the Government Higher Secondary School, Wokha, under the theme “Balancing Cultural Growth with Modern Civilization” (Ete jüli tsükaranka jina limha tsükaranka ji phanjana myantoka).
The LSU, in its commitment to the welfare of the student community and the district, aims to promote and impart knowledge about the Lotha community’s culture and traditions. The objective of the event is to preserve, showcase, and deepen the understanding of Lotha culture. This cultural program is expected to significantly impact the community by promoting cultural understanding, showcasing local talent, and providing a platform for cultural expression and preservation.
The competition will be divided into two categories: Senior and Junior. In the Senior Category, participants will compete in various events, including folk dance, fire making, debate, cooking, bamboo basket making, javelin throw, tug of war, and knitting. Each event has specific requirements, such as the folk dance performances being based solely on Lotha Naga culture, and the cooking competition requiring participants to prepare a traditional Lotha dish within a one-hour limit.
For the Junior Category, events will include folk song performances, painting, bamboo walk race, knitting, quiz competition, top spin, essay writing, and yodeling. Similar to the Senior Category, these events will focus on Lotha cultural traditions and skills.
The LSU has called on all institutions to register for the competition between September 27 and 30, 2024, at the LSU office. Additionally, the LSU invites institutions to submit applications to host the next Inter-School Cultural Competition in 2025. Winners will be ranked in various categories, with awards also being given for the best costume.
Participants are required to dress in Lotha Naga traditional attire and bring their own tiffin and water bottle. Each institution should be accompanied by one teacher-in-charge. The LSU emphasized that all participants should learn the LSU anthem as part of their preparation for the event.