Guwahati: A new cultural centre dedicated to the indigenous tribes of Nagaland was inaugurated on Thursday with the objective of preserving the traditions, history and cultural practices of the state’s tribal communities.
Addressing the programme, Nagaland advisor for art and culture K Konngam Konyak said the initiative was designed to ensure that traditional customs and cultural knowledge continue to be preserved and carried forward by future generations.
He stated that the state’s rich cultural identity comes from the diversity of its tribal communities and added that all 16 recognised tribes of Nagaland have been provided separate spaces at the centre to present their unique heritage and traditions.
Konyak further said the centre is expected to strengthen harmony and understanding among different tribes while also serving as a venue for cultural exhibitions, academic study, archival work and other heritage-related programmes.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Art and Culture, Bodeno S Colo, described the opening of the centre as a major development in the ongoing effort to protect and promote the cultural legacy of Nagaland’s indigenous communities.
She said the facility symbolises the traditions, identity and collective values of the people of Nagaland.
Referring to the challenges faced by traditional cultures in modern times, she expressed hope that the centre would develop into an important space for cultural learning and exchange, where heritage and contemporary ideas could exist together.
The construction of the centre was completed at a cost of Rs 1,283.08 lakh, jointly financed by the state government and the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), according to Executive Engineer Kakheli Swu.