The Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) on Friday stated that it is irked with the recent portrayal of the Tangkhul community by artistes at Lai Haraoba, terming it vulgar and disrespect to the community.
“We respect the belief system of every community and any civilised society is expected to be tolerant. However, the recently concluded Lai Haraoba, portraying the ritual Tangkhul Nurabi/ Loutaba is distasteful and disrespectful. It presents the Tangkhul community in a very poor light. Such vulgarity as entertainment and art form is condemnable,” TNWL stated in a release issued by its president SA Ramnganing.
Tangkhul community has a rich and very beautiful culture with highly developed customary norms, laws and practices as indigenous peoples, it stated.
The community’s textile is not just a piece of cloth; it carries stories and has meanings and significance, contexts, and usages, it mentioned. “Wearing our traditional attire and performing the most disrespectful and vulgar act removed from such meanings, and significance is unacceptable and is an insult to our identity and history,” it mentioned.
TNWL stressed on the importance of being mindful of the nuances of the culture, knowledge system and value systems of other communities, when presented in any art form, rituals.
It may be mentioned that Umanglai Kanba Apunba Lup (UKAL) and Uttra Sanglen Sana Konung had unanimously resolved to ban four ‘Tangkhul saba’ artistes from performing at Lai Haraouba festivals as disciplinary action for their alleged vulgar performances.
ALSO READ: Four ‘Tangkhul Saba’ artistes banned for vulgar performance
