The Chengu Festival, hosted by the Kivikhu Community Conserved Area (CCA) at Kivikhu village, Zunheboto made significant strides in positioning Nagaland’s Tizu Valley as a potential tourism destination. Veyielo Doulo, Director of Tourism for the Government of Nagaland, stated, “If the local community is dedicated to promoting the tourism industry, the Chengu Festival will be included in the annual tourism calendar, ensuring funding from the tourism department”.
This year’s 5.0 edition of the festival, organized by the Tizu Valley Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Network, carried the theme “Conserving Culture and Natural Heritage,” which highlighted the region’s vibrant cultural heritage and its untapped potential as a tourist destination.
Doulo, attending the festival for the second time, emphasized the tourism opportunities within the Tizu Valley and noted that the Chengu Festival is growing in significance. He explained that the festival serves as both a time for thanksgiving and reconciliation and a celebration of biodiversity—a critical link between the state’s cultural heritage and its natural resources.
Doulo also praised Ivan Zhimomi, Team Leader of the Tizu Valley Biodiversity, for securing international recognition for the valley’s biodiversity.He urged the local community to work together to conserve cultural and natural heritage, emphasizing that tourism could transform the local economy by generating significant revenues.
In a move towards sustainable development, Doulo unveiled Aboriginal Energy Pvt. Ltd’s Green Power Solutions, an initiative aimed at promoting green energy alongside the growth of tourism in the region.
T Kakihe Aye, Additional Director of Tourism and member of the Tizu Valley Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Network, supported Doulo’s remarks and reiterated the need for the Chengu Festival’s inclusion in the tourism calendar. While acknowledging that the festival is still in its early stages, Aye expressed optimism about its future growth. He suggested the formation of a village tourism board or a joint tourism board for Sukhai, Ghukhuyi, and Kivikhu villages to align conservation and tourism efforts for mutual benefit.
Short speeches were also delivered by Dr T Yetovi Tuccu, Joint Director of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, Jeffrey Silverman from Conservation International, and Kasturi Navalkar from Value Network Ventures. Traditional activities such as a war dance, rice winnowing competition, fire-making demonstration, and cultural games showcased the region’s cultural richness. A community interactive session, an essay competition, and a prize distribution ceremony were also held, fostering greater community participation.
With a unified effort to blend conservation and tourism, the Chengu Festival holds the promise of becoming an integral part of Nagaland’s tourism calendar, contributing to both the economy and the preservation of local culture.