Tangkhul Naga women residing in the national capital recently celebrated the third anniversary of Tangkhul Shanao Long Delhi.
The three-year-old group works for safeguarding the rights of women and promoting peace, development and prosperity.
As a part of the event, several speakers highlighted the importance of staying connected to one's cultural heritage and the need for promoting it.
"As we live in a modern society, in cities, we cannot always follow the same culture of our home town. We have to adapt with the society and it is very difficult for us to follow the culture that our forefathers had. Living in bigger cities, what we can do is follow the good habits of the modern world, while remembering our own culture as well," revealed Veronica Awungshi, a student and a speaker at the session.
Mona Arthur, one of the organizers and the new president elect of the body, apprised on the importance of bringing cultural awareness.
"Culture has been very important to us. As we have moved away from home, so being here together, bringing awareness about our culture is what we want, apart from focusing on making the lives of women here better .Many people in the younger generation who are born and brought up here do not know much about culture. So we want to focus on that in the future," she said.
During the event, Tangkhul writer Leimiwon launched three-books written in her native dialect.
Colorful traditional handlooms, ornaments and household items of Tangkhul community were also displayed on the occasion.
Felicita Shongvah, Chairperson and one of the founding members of TSLD, stressed on the importance of being connected to our roots, especially for people migrating to other cities.
"Lot of our people migrate to metropolitan cities for jobs and education. Some families settle down here and their kids are born here and they never manage to go back to their home towns. They are losing the connection of our roots. They don't know what we wear, the name of our dresses and the different types of ornaments for men and women. If we do not know our culture, our roots, that is the end," she stated.
The audience was later treated to some soothing music by Epistles, a Delhi-based band that specializes in country, pop, semi-classical and gospel music.
The band gave out a message of love through their songs.
"It is actually a great blessing and a privilege for us. We perform at many places but we hardly get to perform on such occasions. Although we don't get anything, we just want to come and be a part of it. We love to be a part of our own people," said Themreishang Awungshi, one of the vocalists of the band.
A large number of youth from the North-eastern states come to metro cities every year, seeking better education and career opportunities.
Besides bringing about cultural awareness, TSLD has been actively involved in taking up a number of social causes including rescuing trafficked children, racial discrimination and workplace harassment. It also engages with people at the ground level by conducting workshops, awareness camps and providing guidance to those who have migrated to the city.
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