PRESS
RELEASE
TUTSA PONGTU
FESTIVAL STARTS
CHANGLANG
APRIL 11’ 05: THE TUTSA PONGTU
FESTIVAL GOT TO A COLOURFUL START HERE TODAY IN THE BEAUTIFUL
VALLEY
OF
CHANGLANG
WITH TRADITIONAL GAIETY AND RELIGIOUS FERVOUR SHOWCASING THE RICH AGEOLD
CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE TUTSA COMMUNITY.
THE
MINISTER FOR MINING ENVIRONMENT & FOREST SRI N. TINKHATRA WAS GIVEN A WARM
RECEPTION BY THE TUTSA PONGTU DANCERS WHO PAVED THE WAY OF THE MINISTER TO THE
MAIN ROSTRUM. THE DAY LONG CELEBRATION BEGAN WITH THE FESTIVAL FLAG HOISTING
FOLLOWED BY THE PRESENTATION OF ROMHOM A TRADITIONAL CHICKEN SACRIFICE FOR
PRODUCING FIRE THROUGH RUBBING A BAMBOO STICK IN A HAY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE
SACRIFICE IS GIVEN TO THE DIETY OF THE HOUSE AND IS PRACTICED BY ONLY A SECTION
OF THE TUTSA TRIBE.
IN HIS INNAUGURAL SPEECH SRI TINKHATRA LAUDED THE EXCELLENT PRESENTATION OF
TRADITIONAL DANCES BY THE YOUNG TUTSA PERFORMERS AND STRESSED ON THE
PRESERVATION OF SUCH RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE AREA.
WHILE TAKING GRAVE CONCERN OVER THE ONGOING DRUG ADDICTION IN THE DUAL
DISTRICT, HE EXHORTED THE YOUTHS TO TAKE UP BENEFICIAL SCHEMES UNDER
HORTICULTURE AND AGRICULTURE FOR SELF-EMPLOYMENT TO BRING THE MISLED YOUTHS IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HE ALSO INFORMED THE GATHERING ABOUT THE
VILLAGE
FOREST
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (VFMC) SCHEMES UNDER FOREST DEPARTMENT AND URGED THEM TO
AVAIL THE
OPPORTUNITY
.
WHILE DISCUSSING VARIOUS OTHER ISSUES, THE MINISTER EMPHASISED ON THE
PRESERVATION OF
FOREST
AND WILDLIFE. HE ALSO URGED THE IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITIES TO EXECUTE THE
DEVELOPMENTAL WORKS PROPERLY SO THAT THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE DISTRICT
DOES NOT HAMPER.
LATER HE DONATED RS. 25000/- TO THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE.
ON SPEAKING AS GUEST OF HONOUR COL. AMIT KUMAR SHARMA, COMMANDANT 39
ASSAM
RIFLES WISHED EVERY BODY A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR AND PRAYED THE RANGKHOTHAK TO
BESTOW HAPPINESS AND GOOD HEALTH TO ALL. BEING AN AGRICULTURAL BASED FESTIVAL
THE COL. WISHED FOR BUMPER HARVEST IN THE COMING YEAR.
PONGTU KUH IS AN OLDEST AGRICULTURAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATED BY TUTSAS ON THE EVE OF
RAINY SEASON. THE LITERARY MEANING OF PONGTU IS “PONG” MEANS WIND, “TU”
MEANS RETREATING, “KHU” MEANS FESTIVAL. THE FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED AFTER THE
HARVESTING OF MILLET TO WELCOME THE NEW YEAR AND TO DRIVE THE OLD. PONGTU IS
OBSERVED TO OFFER PRAYER TO THE SUPREME GOD RANGKATHOK FOR BUMPER HARVEST
AND PROSPERITY AND SEEK SECURITY OF THE CROPS FROM OCCURANCE OF NATURAL
CALAMITIES AND OTHER DESTRUCTIONS LIKE PESTS ETC.
EARLIER, SHRI W. PONGTE CHAIRMAN MINERAL DEVELOPMENT TRADE AND CORPORATION
EXTENDED WARM WELCOME TO ALL THE GUEST AND WISHED ALL A VERY HAPPY PONGTU.
BESIDES THE CHIEF GUEST AND GUEST OF HONOUR THE INVITEES GALLERY INCLUDED HIGH
RANKING DIGNATORIES LIKE THE LEGISLATURE SRI P. KHIMHUN, CHANGLANG DEPUTY
COMMISSIONER SRI TALEM TAPOK, S.P. CHANGLANG, EX-MINISTER SRI T. TAIJU PUBLIC
LEADERS AND OTHER DISTRICT DEPARTMENT HEADS WITH THOUSANDS OF ONLOOKERS AND
TUTSA DANCERS.
THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY WERE COLOURFUL PONGTU DANCES AND TUTSA MODERN
DANCES. FACINATED BY THE PERFORMANCE, THE GUESTS TOOK TO THEIR HEELS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE PONGTU DANCE.
JAMBEY TSERING
DIPRO,
CHANGLANG