Celebrate Tsüngremmung 2025 with a difference: ASENTEN to organize Festival Workshop in Mokokchung to revive Ao cultural heritage

ASENTEN, a group of Mokokchung-based citizens, is set to organize a one-day Tsüngremmung  Festival Workshop on August 2, 2025, aimed at celebrating and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Ao community.

The event, scheduled from 10:00 AM at the Assam Rifles Ground in Mokokchung, seeks to rekindle traditional knowledge and practices associated with Tsüngremmung , one of the Ao community’s most significant festivals, observed annually from August 1 to 3.

A cultural revival initiative
Tsüngremmung , traditionally celebrated after the sowing season, embodies thanksgiving, fellowship, cultural expression, and reverence for ancestors. However, ASENTEN has expressed concern over a growing disconnect among younger generations, driven by modern influences and constant exposure to social media. This has, over time, diluted the collective memory and spirit of the festival.

In response, the workshop is designed to serve as a platform for reviving, preserving, and transmitting the oral history, rituals, and cultural significance of Tsüngremmung.

“We don’t want a festival of pomp and speeches. We want to return to the free-spirited celebrations of our ancestors—authentic, participatory, and meaningful,” said Rongsennungla, coordinator of the event.

“We want to create a free-spirited environment, just like our forefathers did, without the long-drawn formalities that dominate modern celebrations,” she added.

ASENTEN envisions a future in which the younger generation is deeply rooted in Ao language, songs, dances, attire, games, folklore, rituals, and cuisine.

Workshop highlights
The Tsüngremmung  Festival Workshop will feature a variety of interactive and participatory activities aimed at promoting inter-generational dialogue and cultural pride. It will revive oral traditions, re-enact symbolic rituals, and promote connections between elders and youth through storytelling and shared experiences.

Highlights include oral narratives by community elders, displays of traditional attire and tools, ritual re-enactments, folklore storytelling, and youth participation through interactive sessions.

Locally prepared traditional meals will be served, further celebrating Ao culinary heritage. With no formal speeches or special guests, the event is designed to remain organic and open to all.

Community-driven
Operating without institutional funding, ASENTEN is a not-for-profit organization. This year, however, the group has received sponsorship from the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) following Rongsennungla’s presentation of a vision for a more structured and meaningful celebration.

In keeping with its grassroots ethos, the event will remain community-driven, with NEZCC’s support facilitating broader participation and better documentation. A key goal of the workshop is to create a photographic and video archive and to experiment a replicable model for other villages or communities to follow.

A step toward cultural preservation
ASENTEN’s initiative reflects a sincere effort to strengthen community bonds, build inter-generational respect, and safeguard Ao cultural practices for future generations.

“This workshop is not about glamour or fanfare but about an authentic participatory revival of our traditions,” Rongsennungla emphasized. ASENTEN hopes to create a lasting impact that inspires localized heritage revival across Nagaland and beyond.

The group hopes that this celebration of Tsüngremmung  will sow the seeds of a broader cultural awakening; one rooted not in nostalgia but in shared and lived experiences.

“Tsüngremmung  2025 is just a small step toward that goal. Without the long-drawn formalities that often define the way we celebrate our festivals today, we wish to create a free-spirited environment for celebrating Tsüngremmung  — just like our forefathers did,” Rongsennungla said.

Expected outcomes and impact
The workshop is envisioned to rekindle cultural knowledge in a way that is both engaging and accessible, particularly for younger generations. It aims to deepen community ties and promote mutual respect between elders and youth through shared cultural experiences. Documenting the event will create a lasting archive for future reference and potential publication.

Ultimately, the initiative aspires to serve as a model for other communities seeking to revive and preserve their traditional heritage.

Those interested in supporting or participating in the initiative can contact ASENTEN at rpongen21@ gmail.com or 6909030131.

MT