GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
                                     DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRINTING
                                     // NAHARLAGUN //

NO.IPR(PR)86/2000 Dated Naharlagun, the 25th, April' 2005.

                                                                      PRESS RELEASE

Sl. No. 218

Naharlagun April 25- Moh-Mol, the chief of all annual festivals of the Tangsa community was celebrated today at Changlang with pomp and gaiety amidst huge gathering, reports DIPRO Changlang. Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, the Deputy Commissioner Shri Talem Tapok stressed on preservation of the age old tradition and cultural heritage of the community and emphasized on exposure of the virgin cultural heritage to the outer world. He further wished that the year would bring the vast Changlang family a great and bumper harvest with prosperity and good health knocking their doors.

Col. A.K. Sharma, Commandant 39 Assam Rifles who was the guest of honour while addressing on the occasion informed the gathering about the evolution of the 39 Assam Rifles which is named after Patkai hills as "PATKAI RIVALS" and said that it is an integral part of the Changlang society. While wishing one and all a happy Moh Mol, Col. Sharma strongly
advocated on bridging up of the gaps between the arm forces and the local populace. Later on he presented gifts to the festival committee as a token of love.

The local MLA Shri P. Khimhun while welcoming one and all to the festival gave a brief description of the festival and lauded the collective efforts rendered by all the volunteers in convening the festival to a grand success adding that such festival provides a platform to bridge up the differences.

Earlier warm reception was accorded to the chief guest and guest of honour by the Lungchang dancers dressed in colourful festival attire followed by felicitation and unfurling of the festival flag. The invitees also visited the "ROMROM" a worshipping hut of the Tangsas and offered their prayers for the betterment of the society. On the occasion, the chief guest and the guest of honour also distributed meritorious award to the Tangsa students for class X and XII respectively.
Moh-Mol is basically agricultural related festival, which signifies end of an agricultural activity or beginning of crop season. Since life and activity of tribal people revolve around agriculture, they adhere to utmost important to this festival. It is a gala of pomp and show of traditional colourful costumes. Ornaments, art and crafts that enriched the pride of the cultural heritage of the Tangsa's since time immemorial. It therefore inspires the younger generation every year to inherit, protect, preserve and continue it to the later generations. The invitees gallery included the former ministers, Shri T. Taiju, Shri
T. Ngemu, public leaders besides the officers. The colourful dances of Lungchang, Tutsa, Muklom, Pangwa and Pangsas
were the major attraction of the day. People from all walks of life irrespective of sex and age laid down their hearts in enjoying food, drinks, songs, dances and music that filled the air of the ground with maddening effect, the report added.

(Ms Purabi Taikam),
Press Research Officer,
Information Public Relations & Printing