GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRINTING
// NAHARLAGUN //
NO.IPR(PR)-86/2002
Dated
Naharlagun, the 13th April 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Press Release : Pongtu
festival of Tutsa tribe celebrated at Tirap
Pongtu by far the most
important festival of the tutsas of Tirap district was celebrated at Khonsa on
11/04/04 with traditional fervour and gaiety. Speaking as Chief Guest on the
occasion the Deputy Chief Minister of the state Kameng Dolo while greeting the
people said that pong-tu was a festival of not only the tutsas but also of the
entire tribals of the state. He said that though the people follow dirrerent
languages it was the prime duty of every one to preserve one's culture and asked
tutsas to leave no stone unturned to safeguard and promote their rich culture
for posterity. Shri Dolo emphatically opened that religion and culture are two
different entities and that people must not be confused and the two entities
having great emotional relation with human beings, should not be allowed to
clash. Participating in the festival T.L. Rajkumar, Minister, Law and Justice
who was the guest of honour asked the tutsas to maintain unity and said that
Shri Kameng Dolo had always been having a soft corner for people of Tirap
District. Earlier the Dy CM unfurled the Pong-Tu Flag amid a huge gathering of
festival revelers. He later donated Rs 25,000/- to the festival committee. The
general secy. of the committee Kamrang Tesia earlier while welcoming the guests
explained the bacground, significance and mode of celebrations of the Pong-Tu
festival. Folk dances and community feast werte the main highlights of the day.
It may be mentioned here that Pong-Tu is also celebrated in changlang district
by the Tutoso there. Sizeable chunk of tutsa population is present in Tirap
District also scattered mainly in the areas bordering changlang District.