Imphal: Nagas in Manipur celebrated seed-sowing festival Lui-Ngai-Ni at Longmai Common Ground in Noney district, 64km west of Imphal, on Thursday.

This year's festival did not have an overt political tone and focussed more on rituals (dance and songs) seeking blessings of the Almighty for a bumper harvest and unity of Nagas.

Of the around 40 Naga tribes, 16 are settled in Manipur and they gathered for the four-day festival. Thursday was the second day of the festival.

However, the wish of the Nagas to "live together as one people" was expressed in many ways - songs, dances and speeches. The theme of this year's festival is "one culture one goal," expressing the Nagas' dream of living together.

The festival was hosted by Zeliangrong Boudi under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC), which is a strong supporter of the NSCN (I-M)'s demand for integration of all the contiguous Naga-inhabited areas.

Speakers at the programme stressed on unity of the Nagas and peaceful coexistence with neighbours and other communities.

"There is no hope and future in the present political system to promote, preserve and protect our rich cultural identity and history. We need a new healthy and dynamic political solution. Today, our people are suffering from political and economic handicaps," UNC president Gaidon Kamei told the gathering.

He said this year's festival will sow seeds of fraternity and love within the Naga family and mutual respect with their neighbours.

A team of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System attended the programme. The team came from Imphal with seeds of grains to distribute to the chiefs of the 16 Naga tribes. It is an important part of the celebration.

The Nagas started celebrating the festival in 1987. The state government had declared the festival day as a state holiday since 1997. Lui-Ngai-Ni is listed as one of India's tourism festivals.

Though Longmai falls within the new district of Noney, which was bifurcated from Tamenglong district, the organisers wrote in invitations and banner "Longmai Common Ground, Tamenglong district," making it very clear that the UNC does not acknowledge Noney.

The UNC has been demanding rollback of the seven new districts created by the previous Congress government in 2016.

Addressing the crowd, PHE minister L. Dikho urged the Nagas, mostly settled in the hills, to conserve forest and natural wealth.