The P Shilu Ao Memorial Indigenous Games Festival cum 2nd Tug of War Championship 2025 concluded on Saturday at Longjang village, Mokokchung. Organized by the Longjang Riongjanger Cultural Society Mokokchung (LRCSM) under the aegis of the Longjang Village Council, the two-day event celebrated traditional games and cultural heritage under the theme “Tenten.” Participants and invitees from eleven villages, including Longjang and its neighboring villages of Longpa, Dibuia, Süngratsü, Waromung, Mongsenyimti, Chuchuyimlang, Khar, Asangma, Mongchen, and Kilengmen, attended the festival on Saturday.
Special guest Tongpang Ozukum, MLA and Advisor for Water Resources, speaking at the function highlighted the legacy of Nagaland’s first Chief Minister, P Shilu Ao, who hailed from Longjang. Commending the organizers for their initiative, he described the festival as a meaningful tribute to P Shilu Ao’s contributions and assured continued support to preserve his memory. Ozukum also urged the people to promote indigenous games, saying that such activities must remain a focal point for communities to uphold their traditions.
Short speeches were also delivered by Nuklotoshi, MLA and Chairman of DPDB Mokokchung, A Pangjung Jamir, MLA and Advisor for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Ningshi Aier, Chairman of the Longjang Village Council. Pangjung Jamir emphasized that while modern sports receive global attention, indigenous games are often neglected, calling for their preservation as vital expressions of Naga culture.
In a greeting message, Ao Senden President Marsanen Imsong appreciated the village’s gesture of honoring P Shilu Ao but noted that “it alone does not suffice to commemorate his legacy,” urging collective recognition of the first Chief Minister’s contributions by all Nagas. He called on the Ao community to strengthen unity through truth and self-reliance and encouraged the youth to focus on constructive work and leadership grounded in vision and integrity.
Throughout the two-day event, traditional folk songs, dances, and indigenous games were showcased. The highlight of the festival was the Tug of War Championship, which saw spirited participation from all eleven villages. In the final match, Longjang village triumphed over Süngratsü to claim the championship title and received a trophy along with a cash prize of Rs. 30,000.
The closing ceremony was graced by TN Mannen, IAS (Retd), MLA and Advisor for Law and Justice and Land Revenue, who also reflected on the life and contributions of P Shilu Ao. He encouraged the organizers to expand the Tug of War Championship into a larger event, adding that such festivals build unity and the spirit of healthy competition.
Remembering the legacy of P Shilu Ao
