Longte celebrated amid election season

ITANAGAR, Apr 15: Amidst the bustling election season, Nyishi’s gathered to celebrate Longte, a unique bloodless festival coinciding with the new agricultural cycle.

The festival, known for its vibrant cultural significance, was celebrated at Nyokum Lapang ground in Itanagar and Nyikum Niya ground in Nirjuli.

Nyishi Festival Council (NFC) secretary, Amith Bengia during his address, highlighted the festival's core philosophy of warding off evil spirits and fostering a barrier between them and human beings. Despite the concurrent parliament and assembly elections, the spirit of Longte remained undiminished with a commendable turnout on the ceremonial day.

Bengia called on attendees to preserve the true spirit of the Longte festival by maintaining peace and harmony during the ongoing electoral period. He encouraged the community to actively participate in the elections and choose leaders who would strengthen the democratic framework.

As part of the post-festival celebrations, traditional games, sports, and a cultural extravaganza are scheduled from April 24 to April 28, informed chairman of the Celebration Committee, Chera Siro.

The event commenced with the hoisting of the Longte flag by Itanagar Municipal Corporation executive engineer, Yumlam Take in the presence of a large assembly of participants, blending festive joy with the democratic fervour of the election season.