Coinciding with Moatsü festival, the first edition of Mopungchuket Pongen Mepu Lipok Lisang Liremtu Sentong, a cultural gala, was held at Pongen Reju Kima organized by the Pongen Khel Sports Association, Mopungchuket with local MLA Dr. Imtiwapang Aier as special guest.
The event began with Yimdongsü Yar, a cultural parade, which was followed by a plethora of activities including indigenous games, folk songs and dances, followed by a community feast.
The special guest Dr. Imtiwapang Aier while addressing the gathering stressed on the importance of preservation of culture. While asserting that change is inevitable as society advances, he reminded the villagers that they should not let “western culture” subsume the indigenous culture.
He also reminded the present generation of their responsibility to preserve the cultural heritage for future generations. He also delved into the importance of preserving one’s mother language and expressed apprehension that the Nagamese could overthrow native languages in the long run. He also regretted the extinction of Sangpur language, one of the four languages spoken by Ao Nagas as per JP Mills’ records. Alluding Mopungchuket to a patriarch village, Aier urged the village elders to uphold truth and integrity, and to keep the records straight without distortions in matters of oral history.