The Ao community in Signal Angami village, Dimapur, organised a Tsüngremmung social work on July 30 to revive the tradition of community service associated with Ao Naga cultural festivals.
Traditionally, festivals such as Moatsü and Tsüngremmung are not limited to feasting and celebrations. They also provide an occasion for community members to undertake social work, including clearing weeds and renovating public paths leading to paddy fields and community wells ahead of the festivals.
The community said this culture of collective work has gradually declined, with younger generations increasingly viewing festivals primarily as occasions for enjoyment and feasting.
Against this backdrop, the Ao community in Signal Angami village organised the social work to promote and revive the spirit of community service during cultural festivals.
During the initiative, community members cleared drainage channels, cut weeds along the main road and removed garbage from public places.
The organisers said the initiative was intended to remind the younger generation that traditional festivals were also rooted in collective responsibility and community participation.
“Festival is something to enjoy without work” is a misconception that the community seeks to address by reviving such traditional practices, the organisers said.
Tsüngremmung is a pre-harvest festival of the Ao Naga community traditionally celebrated during the first week of August each year.