Nyokum Yullo, one of the most important and popular festivals of the Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh was celebrated across the state with traditional fervour and high spirits on Wednesday.
The festival is celebrated annually to invoke blessings from the higher spirits for good harvest and communal harmony.
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Attending the celebrations at Doimukh near Itanagar, union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale lauded the efforts of the Nyishi community in preserving their age-old tradition and culture.
Greeting the people on the occasion, the MoS expressed his happiness in being given the opportunity to be a part the grand festival.
Athawale said the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed towards all round development of the Northeast.
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“The government is dedicated towards providing better education, employment, health and social security to the people of the region,” he said.
Further highlighting various flagships programmes of the Central Government, the MoS called upon the people of the State to avail benefits of all such schemes.
In his speech as the guest of honor, Central Institute of Fresh Aquaculture principal scientist Dr P P Chakraborty thanked the festival committee for their hospitality and lauded the Nyishi Community for upholding its identity with pride.
Local legislator Tana Hali Tara also expressed gratitude to the MoS and his entire entourage for gracing the festival.
Doimukh Nyokum Yullo Celebration Committee chairman R T Tara spoke on the origin of Nyokum Yullo festival.
Also present were Papum Pare deputy commissioner Pige Ligu and SP Jimmy Chiram.
Deputy chief minister Chowna Mein graced the Nyokum Yullo Festival at CHayangtajo.
Mein, in his speech highlighted that the State Government is taking every possible measures to protect, preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the state and its indigenous local dialects.
Mein said the government has also formulated long term and short term strategic plans for bringing all round development in the state.
Agriculture and horticulture minister Tage Taki graced the celebrations at Seppa.
Urging the people to preserve their age-old tradition and culture the minister said, “Nyokum is a festival of togetherness and celebrating your tradition and culture.”
“Once you lose your culture and tradition, you will lose your identity of being a Nyishi or that of any other tribe,” he said.
Taki said that folk songs and dances, local dialects and the rituals and customs that we perform today are the only tools that will help all in preserving one’s identity.