Poanglum Hornbill Festival- the major festival of Chang community was inaugurated at Parade Ground Tuensang on 11th January 2022 with the theme “Jak-Xa, Rediscovering our sustenance”. The five days festivity is being organized by Chang Khulei Setshang (Chang Tribal Hoho) in collaboration with Government of Nagaland and Nagaland Tourism.
It started with the panel of speakers speaking on ‘Reminiscence’. Kejong Chang, 97 years old and Member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly said the changes of Tuensang town shall serve as a testimony for the rest of the Chang community and shall set an example with the rest of the neighbouring community in social intercourses. He is of the view that many people left their villages to venture out abandoning traditional means of living and sometimes fail to acquire urban living standards and become anti-social creating problems for the general masses. We need a revival in such social migrations; we need to focus on traditional way of living in villages or we shall focus strictly in education and technical sectors so that there will be social balance in itself, he added.
Kamchu Chang, Oldest GB of Tuensang Town retrospected the value of Poanglum festivity and its nature of festivity. He said poanglum is a festival of making friendship and maintaining the old friendship circle and also to make treaties to the neighbouring communities and villages. When we look back to our forefathers; poanglum has been a meaningful celebration with many good values which can be used in daily living, he said.
S. Chubasangla Chang said decades back, women folk were not given privileges to partake in social gatherings and decision making but conditions have changed for the better, she said. Poanglum celebration was more of guests from neighbouring villages and communities visiting and celebrating with sharing of foods which depict the respect, love and cordial relationship amongst the communities and village, she said. Trade used to be an important part of the celebration in form of barter which signifies importance of trade and entrepreneurship.
Inaugural prayer was invoked by Rev. Achu Chang ES, CBLT while heralding was done by Nungsanglemba Chang, President CKS. The vision of scion by Chongma Mongko (16 years old) Council Chairman, Sochum Tuensang village and Echos of the hills by Yungphaang youths followed by Jak-Xa food feast and night Carnival by the evening.
(Thungti Chang, IA Tuensang)
