ITANAGAR, April 5 - Mopin, the most popular festival of Galo community was today celebrated across Arunachal Pradesh with traditional gaiety and religious fervour.
Clad in their traditional attires, Galo men and women, young and old alike came out in large numbers to celebrate their annual harvest festival. Apart from rituals, smearing of rice powder on each other�s face, mega dance (Popir), cultural presentations, community feast, etc., marked the day-long festival.
Joining the Mopin festival at Naharlagun as the chief guest, Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora while greeting the people of Arunachal in general and the Galos in particular, said that festivals fostered love, harmony, brotherhood and peace.
The chief guest recalled the age-old relations between the two neighbouring States � Assam and Arunachal Pradesh � and opined that all the people of North East should unite to build a strong, vibrant and self-reliant NE. He said that all the differences, if any, should be hammered out though meaningful dialogues.
The Minister also conveyed the best wishes of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. He later participated in the Popir dance and witnessed the traditional ritual including Mithun sacrifice and cultural competitions.
The guest of honour Tado Ete, a senior citizen from the community, passionately appealed the Galos, especially the youth to spare no effort to jealously safeguard the rich traditional culture and heritage of the Galos.
In his welcome address, president of Mopin Celebration Committee Kento Jini urged all to preserve the rich traditional culture of the Galos.
