LIKABALI, Feb 23: The members of Nyishi community residing in Lower Siang District celebrated Pre-Nyokum Yullo at Likabali today. The occasion was graced by the Deputy Commissioner Rujjum Rakshap and Lt. Col. Anil Khurdiya, Administrative Commandant, Likabali Military Station as the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively along with all the District Heads of Offices and prominent members of the locality as guests.
The mood of festivity was visible from the enthusiasm the members had displayed from the beginning when they welcomed the guests with the traditional Rikham-Pada dance. The popular ritualistic Buya dance, which is performed to seek blessings from the goddess was also performed and joined by all the guests.
Shri Rakshap while addressing the people on the occasion, wished everyone a very happy and prosperous Nyokum Yullo and underscored the importance of festivals in upholding the cultural values of the community. He said that “Festivals never divide people, it rather unites the people of all walks of life with even renewed bonding among them. Nyokum Yullo is a great festival of a big community of the state and it is celebrated not only to propitiate the gods and goddess for the overall wellbeing of the people but also to foster brotherhood among the folks and also to sustain the cultural heritage of the people.” He further endorsed that a joint efforts and encouragements among members of all the communities is need of the hour for celebrating tribal festivals, which he said would rekindle its continuity in the society.
Lt. Col. Anil Khurdiya praised the rich cultural heritage of the tribal people and thanked the organising committee for inviting him to be among them and also for enabling him to have a pip into the cultural aspects of the festival.
Shri Ginso Don, apprised everyone about the mythology behind the origin and celebration of Nyokum Yullo among the Nyishi community with a customised mythological deliberation about the festival. Cultural items were presented by artistes from Gensi, Likabali and Kangku circles and Itanagar on the occasion.
Earlier, Padang Sangyu, Organising Chairman of the Likabali Pre-Nyokum Yullo Celebration Committee 2025 welcomed the guests and sought blessings from the Nyokum Goddess for well-being of the people.
