The curtains came down on the first-ever national-level cultural festival in the outskirts of this commercial town yesterday making a positive impact on forging emotional integration between the North East and the rest of the country.
Organised by North East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC), the three-day winter festival showcased the tapestry of Indian cultural diversity, enthralling the people here, who hardly get such an opportunity to mingle with others.
Over 400 artistes from different parts of the country, representing seven zonal cultural centres, performed folk, creative and contemporary dance and music, rejuvenating the otherwise the dull town life.
Speaking on the closing day, Nagaland Finance, Art and Culture minister K Therie emphasised the need for sustaining the originality of art and culture of various ethnic tribes in the country and called upon the people to concentrate on strengthing peace and development activities instead of obsessed with the "politics of boundaries".
Chief Secretary P Talitemjen described the winter festival as a landmark event in the cultural history of the country because it was organised for the first time in Nagaland.