Itanagar: The Nyokum festival of the Nyishi community was celebrated across the state with traditional fervor and gaiety on Monday.
The annual agro-based festival is celebrated for a better productivity, prosperity and happiness of all human beings.
Clad in their best traditional costumes, the men and women – young and old alike – thronged the Nyokum centres across the state to celebrate the festival with pomp and show.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein graced the vibrant Nyokum celebration at the festival ground in New Pitapool under Yachuli circle in Lower Subansiri district.
In his address, Mein commended the Nyishi Community for preserving and promoting their ancestral traditions and age-old cultural practices.
He emphasized the importance of embracing modernization while safeguarding indigenous heritage, urging everyone to cherish and celebrate traditional festivals with enthusiasm.
Highlighting notable economic achievements, Mein mentioned that Arunachal has seen a remarkable rise in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by 136% from 2016-17 to 2023-24, along with a surge of 104% in per capita income.
He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Developed India by 2047 and the state government’s commitment to achieving this through active participation.
Mein elaborated on the progress made in various sectors, including connectivity and border security, reaffirming the government’s commitment to bring development in the border region at par with the foothill areas.
He mentioned ongoing projects like frontier highway, vibrant village program, border village illumination program, etc., which are expected to bring rapid development in the border areas. Further congratulating the people of Yazali and Yachuli circles on the formation of the new district, Keyi-Panyor, Mein said that the new district will bring speedy development in the area and generate employment opportunities.
He also announced a 300-megawatt hydropower project to be developed in the upper stream of Panyor River, urging officials of NEEPCO to carry out the preliminary survey at the earliest.
The festival was also attended by education minister Taba Tedir, State Council of Education, Research & Training (SCERT) director Toko Babu, among others.
In Papum Pare district, the Doimukh circle celebrated the festival with great fanfare.
Agriculture minister Tage Taki, who along with Rajya Sabha member Nabam Rebia and Nyishi Elite Society president Prof Tana Showren attended the festivity while emphasizing on preserving the state’s traditional cultures and festivals.
Addressing the occasion, Taki emphasized the importance of preserving nature and offering prayers for good agriculture and blessings.
He also stressed the significance of using the local language in communication, alongside Hindi, the national language.
MP Rebia highlighted the festival’s significance in Nyishi society, describing it as a worship of nature, welcoming the New Year and spring season.
He noted its universal appeal, being celebrated across the country by Nyishi natives living in other states.
Local MLA Tana Hali Tara expressed that Nyokum is not just a festival but a tradition that embodies the Nyishi culture, urging for its grand celebration.
Also read: CM Khandu highlights Arunachal’s development since 2014, credits PM Modi
