Hornbill festival was basically conceptualised in 2000 to show-case the traditional Naga Culture as an attraction for tourists. It was to also become the official annual festival that coincided with the Statehood anniversary of Nagaland which falls on December 1.
This was also to preserve, promote and propagate the indigenous Naga culture which is on the brink of extinction due to conversion to Christianity followed by rapid westernisation. Since then within a short span of only eight years, the festival has undergone sea-change indicating a gradual deviation from the original path and shift towards pop-culture and merry-making event leading the Naga youths towards total materialism, hedonic consumerism, indiscipline and criminal activities. In long run, it will shatter the family bonds, social restrictions and national responsibilities. The crime rate especially rape, murder, theft and bribery will certainly increase if the culture drift is not checked in the beginning itself.
Bharatvarsh which is also called as Hindusthan—the land of Hindus, is the country of festivals. No month of the year goes without a festival. January hosts Makar Sankranti wherein ‘Tarpan’ (Pooja) is offered by eldest member of the family to departed souls. River Snan and Ganga Snan (bath) is traditionally organised and poojas are offered followed by special type of food and other preparations specific to this festival. Till December, different festivals and Mela are organised. In addition to this, Kumbh Melas are largest on the earth. All these Melas are organised traditionally to strengthen the family bond, social and national unity and preservation and promotion of Hindu Dharma and Hindu Sanskriti (culture). Hindu Sanyasins give religious pravachans (discourses) to enlighten the society about Dharma, Sanskriti and parampara (tradition). No hanky-panky event is allowed. Anybody found breaking the established norms, is brought to book. The organisers of such religious melas ensure to maintain the originality of event. In the entire programme, the religious sanction and correct rituals are observed. Things are never designed to attract White tourists or to earn revenue. But they come in thousands. They have to come. They come not for merry-making but for quenching their spiritual thirst which only Bharatiya Darshan (philosophy) and Bharatiya Jeevan Paddhati (life-style) can provide. Neither Christianity nor Islam has that spiritual treasure. It is only in Hindu Dharma. This is the reason both the organized religions, Christianity and Islam have tried their level best to kill Hindu Dharma and establish their hegemony over it. What I wished to point out here is that Nagas must do the needful to maintain the originality of their festivals and poojas of their native Gods on the occasion of these festivals. When they are displaying any cultural dance of any festival programme specific to some traditional festival, it should be in pure form. It must not be amalgamated with Christian tenets.
In Nagaland, most of the Nagas have converted to Christianity. When you celebrate Christmas or any other Christian festival, do it in pure Christian way prescribed by the Church. But when Angamis are celebrating Sekrenyi or Aos are celebrating Moatsu, it must be in pure traditional form as per the native ritual. There, Christianity should not poke its nose. Then and then only, Nagas can preserve their culture and tradition in its pure form.
White Christian tourists will not come to see your Christmas celebrations or to witness your Christmas carols because they have become fed-up of all these celebrations which could not provide them mental solace. But White Americans, British, Australians and other Europeans will certainly come to witness your festivals like Sekrenyi, Moatsu, Tuluni, Chaga Gadi, Ngada and all other Naga festivals because of its colorful presentation and uniqueness in character. The only thing Nagas have to do is that they have to evolve it suitably after deep research to meet competitiveness and popularise it through modern media and cultural exchange. This will attract Bharatiya tourists as well.
Hornbill festival should not be a revenue yielding enterprise. It is an investment which will encourage entrepreneurs to invest the money in various enterprises which will yield revenue for the State. That is why; the organisers of Hornbill-festival must not do anything which has no sanction from indigenous rituals exclusively to attract White tourists. White tourists and native tourist will automatically come with the passage of time and with the peaceful atmosphere. Even if you offer best of the Naga customary show, no tourist will come to part his hard-earned money or to get a bullet from the armed cadres of this faction or that. Even the residents of Dimapur don’t venture to come to Kisama out of fear of bullet, forget about the people from other parts of the country. Thus, free sale of liquor which give rise to flesh trade, rock-music, pop-culture, beauty pageants and other body-baring/thigh-revealing programmes etc are unnecessary to organise during this Hornbill festival. The entertainment culture will harm the society and give rise to social evils. In the last three years, I have been able to witness the indigenous festivals and their poojas to Indigenous Gods of over a hundred tribes of Northeast region including Bhutias, Lepcha and Nepali tribals of Sikkim. By comparison, it is found that much of native cultures of Nagas and Mizos have been destroyed by the Church and they are now like kati-patang (rootless) seeking solace here and there. But solace is nowwhere outside. It is embedded in your indigenous faith and culture. I have seen in Sikkim amongst Bhutias and Lepcha that Buddhism and their indigenous faith and culture go parallel without any conflict. The birth and death ceremonies and marriage rituals are observed in both ways. The Buddhist Lamas have no problem with it. Rather, they also encourage this practice. The Monpas of Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) and Chakmas and Reangs of Mizoram also observe their indigenous rituals along with Buddhism. Why can’t the same happen with indigenous faith and culture of Nagas and Christianity? There must not be any problem because reverends, pastors, deacons and high-ranking Church leaders—all are now Nagas. In Catholic organisation too, all the priests, nuns, bishops and arch-bishops are mostly from Kerala. Why should there be any problem in it if they have will power to do it. If they can do it, it will be an inspiring example to world. In fact in Kerala, the Malayali Catholic Christians celebrate Onam festival with a great fervor sometimes at some places more than Hindus. This has kept Malayali Christians firmly attached to their forefathers roots.
Hornbill festival gives an opportunity for Nagas to ponder over these points. They have to ponder whether to preserve and promote Naga indigenous culture and showcase them during this festival or metamorphose in carnival festival which will lead nowhere. Mind it, culture is a complete way of life including ethos. Culture and indigenous festivals are like body and soul. Both are one and the same. Without the one, other is dead. Do not limit culture to traditional attire and few dances only. These are the only external manifestation of the culture. The nucleus of the culture is the indigenous virtues inherited from generation to generation. The storm of westernisation in the name of modernisation is swallowing your ethos and values of life without which a society becomes hallow and rootless. The night bazaars will finish the younger generation if care is not taken now itself.
We, Hindus, are equally the victims of cultural degeneration because of pseudo-secularism and rapid westernisation but Hindu roots are very deep. It cannot be destroyed. Hindus have successfully faced the challenges of Islamic invasion and Church onslaught promoted by Christian White invaders. The current cultural onslaught is also being faced successfully. The martyrdom of Vedant Kesari Swami Lakshmananand Saraswati whom Church allegedly managed to slaughter on 23rd August 2008 in Kandhmal signifies this battle in Orrisa. The 26/11/08 attack on Mumbai and earlier attacks on Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udalgudi and Darrang districts of Assam by Islamic Jehadis are not simply a terrorist attacks, it is very visible Islamic invasion from within and from outside on Bharatvarsh and Hindu Dharma which impotents in Delhi darbar prefer to ignore to muster Muslim vote-bank. They are busy in inventing Hindu terrorist in Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt. Col. Purohit and Swami Dayanand Saraswati who are entirely innocent. Still, Hindus are a force to reckon with at international level. But it is not there in the case of Nagas. They are required to work more to show-case their culture and indigenous festivals. Every enlightened Naga is found worried on the rampant destruction of the culture and distortion of Naga festivals. They are working to check this culture contamination. More thrust in this direction is required to be given without any further loss of time.
- By Jagdamba Mall
(Jagdamba123@gmail.com)Source: www.thesangaiexpress.com
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This was also to preserve, promote and propagate the indigenous Naga culture which is on the brink of extinction due to conversion to Christianity followed by rapid westernisation. Since then within a short span of only eight years, the festival has undergone sea-change indicating a gradual deviation from the original path and shift towards pop-culture and merry-making event leading the Naga youths towards total materialism, hedonic consumerism, indiscipline and criminal activities. In long run, it will shatter the family bonds, social restrictions and national responsibilities. The crime rate especially rape, murder, theft and bribery will certainly increase if the culture drift is not checked in the beginning itself.
Bharatvarsh which is also called as Hindusthan—the land of Hindus, is the country of festivals. No month of the year goes without a festival. January hosts Makar Sankranti wherein ‘Tarpan’ (Pooja) is offered by eldest member of the family to departed souls. River Snan and Ganga Snan (bath) is traditionally organised and poojas are offered followed by special type of food and other preparations specific to this festival. Till December, different festivals and Mela are organised. In addition to this, Kumbh Melas are largest on the earth. All these Melas are organised traditionally to strengthen the family bond, social and national unity and preservation and promotion of Hindu Dharma and Hindu Sanskriti (culture). Hindu Sanyasins give religious pravachans (discourses) to enlighten the society about Dharma, Sanskriti and parampara (tradition). No hanky-panky event is allowed. Anybody found breaking the established norms, is brought to book. The organisers of such religious melas ensure to maintain the originality of event. In the entire programme, the religious sanction and correct rituals are observed. Things are never designed to attract White tourists or to earn revenue. But they come in thousands. They have to come. They come not for merry-making but for quenching their spiritual thirst which only Bharatiya Darshan (philosophy) and Bharatiya Jeevan Paddhati (life-style) can provide. Neither Christianity nor Islam has that spiritual treasure. It is only in Hindu Dharma. This is the reason both the organized religions, Christianity and Islam have tried their level best to kill Hindu Dharma and establish their hegemony over it. What I wished to point out here is that Nagas must do the needful to maintain the originality of their festivals and poojas of their native Gods on the occasion of these festivals. When they are displaying any cultural dance of any festival programme specific to some traditional festival, it should be in pure form. It must not be amalgamated with Christian tenets.
In Nagaland, most of the Nagas have converted to Christianity. When you celebrate Christmas or any other Christian festival, do it in pure Christian way prescribed by the Church. But when Angamis are celebrating Sekrenyi or Aos are celebrating Moatsu, it must be in pure traditional form as per the native ritual. There, Christianity should not poke its nose. Then and then only, Nagas can preserve their culture and tradition in its pure form.
White Christian tourists will not come to see your Christmas celebrations or to witness your Christmas carols because they have become fed-up of all these celebrations which could not provide them mental solace. But White Americans, British, Australians and other Europeans will certainly come to witness your festivals like Sekrenyi, Moatsu, Tuluni, Chaga Gadi, Ngada and all other Naga festivals because of its colorful presentation and uniqueness in character. The only thing Nagas have to do is that they have to evolve it suitably after deep research to meet competitiveness and popularise it through modern media and cultural exchange. This will attract Bharatiya tourists as well.
Hornbill festival should not be a revenue yielding enterprise. It is an investment which will encourage entrepreneurs to invest the money in various enterprises which will yield revenue for the State. That is why; the organisers of Hornbill-festival must not do anything which has no sanction from indigenous rituals exclusively to attract White tourists. White tourists and native tourist will automatically come with the passage of time and with the peaceful atmosphere. Even if you offer best of the Naga customary show, no tourist will come to part his hard-earned money or to get a bullet from the armed cadres of this faction or that. Even the residents of Dimapur don’t venture to come to Kisama out of fear of bullet, forget about the people from other parts of the country. Thus, free sale of liquor which give rise to flesh trade, rock-music, pop-culture, beauty pageants and other body-baring/thigh-revealing programmes etc are unnecessary to organise during this Hornbill festival. The entertainment culture will harm the society and give rise to social evils. In the last three years, I have been able to witness the indigenous festivals and their poojas to Indigenous Gods of over a hundred tribes of Northeast region including Bhutias, Lepcha and Nepali tribals of Sikkim. By comparison, it is found that much of native cultures of Nagas and Mizos have been destroyed by the Church and they are now like kati-patang (rootless) seeking solace here and there. But solace is nowwhere outside. It is embedded in your indigenous faith and culture. I have seen in Sikkim amongst Bhutias and Lepcha that Buddhism and their indigenous faith and culture go parallel without any conflict. The birth and death ceremonies and marriage rituals are observed in both ways. The Buddhist Lamas have no problem with it. Rather, they also encourage this practice. The Monpas of Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) and Chakmas and Reangs of Mizoram also observe their indigenous rituals along with Buddhism. Why can’t the same happen with indigenous faith and culture of Nagas and Christianity? There must not be any problem because reverends, pastors, deacons and high-ranking Church leaders—all are now Nagas. In Catholic organisation too, all the priests, nuns, bishops and arch-bishops are mostly from Kerala. Why should there be any problem in it if they have will power to do it. If they can do it, it will be an inspiring example to world. In fact in Kerala, the Malayali Catholic Christians celebrate Onam festival with a great fervor sometimes at some places more than Hindus. This has kept Malayali Christians firmly attached to their forefathers roots.
Hornbill festival gives an opportunity for Nagas to ponder over these points. They have to ponder whether to preserve and promote Naga indigenous culture and showcase them during this festival or metamorphose in carnival festival which will lead nowhere. Mind it, culture is a complete way of life including ethos. Culture and indigenous festivals are like body and soul. Both are one and the same. Without the one, other is dead. Do not limit culture to traditional attire and few dances only. These are the only external manifestation of the culture. The nucleus of the culture is the indigenous virtues inherited from generation to generation. The storm of westernisation in the name of modernisation is swallowing your ethos and values of life without which a society becomes hallow and rootless. The night bazaars will finish the younger generation if care is not taken now itself.
We, Hindus, are equally the victims of cultural degeneration because of pseudo-secularism and rapid westernisation but Hindu roots are very deep. It cannot be destroyed. Hindus have successfully faced the challenges of Islamic invasion and Church onslaught promoted by Christian White invaders. The current cultural onslaught is also being faced successfully. The martyrdom of Vedant Kesari Swami Lakshmananand Saraswati whom Church allegedly managed to slaughter on 23rd August 2008 in Kandhmal signifies this battle in Orrisa. The 26/11/08 attack on Mumbai and earlier attacks on Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Udalgudi and Darrang districts of Assam by Islamic Jehadis are not simply a terrorist attacks, it is very visible Islamic invasion from within and from outside on Bharatvarsh and Hindu Dharma which impotents in Delhi darbar prefer to ignore to muster Muslim vote-bank. They are busy in inventing Hindu terrorist in Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt. Col. Purohit and Swami Dayanand Saraswati who are entirely innocent. Still, Hindus are a force to reckon with at international level. But it is not there in the case of Nagas. They are required to work more to show-case their culture and indigenous festivals. Every enlightened Naga is found worried on the rampant destruction of the culture and distortion of Naga festivals. They are working to check this culture contamination. More thrust in this direction is required to be given without any further loss of time.
- By Jagdamba Mall
(Jagdamba123@gmail.com)Source: www.thesangaiexpress.com
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