A villager scrambles up the bamboo pole. A Telegraph picture

Dimapur, May 4: Moa, an Ao Naga, acted like a bear while his partner imitated a monkey, climbing a 20-foot bamboo to pluck a leaf. The fun apart, the mimicry had a loud and clear message ? that of the society?s proximity to both nature and culture.

The fun and fiesta were a part of the Moats? Mong, or the sowing festival of the Ao Nagas. The festival has been celebrated across Nagaland with fervour this week, bringing back memories of traditional games and merrymaking.

Moa was taking part in one of the celebrations organised jointly by different villages of Mokokchung district.

Each village presented its own items of entertainment. One particular game drew special attention of both the tribal audience as well as a few foreign tourists.

The arrival of Longsa villagers at the celebration ground was heralded by drumbeats and a traditional song. A group of bare-bodied youth carried a huge bamboo pole with palm leaves tied on the top.

They planted the bamboo pole, known as Moats? tongshi (pillar), at the centre of the ground. Every year, residents of different villages of the Ao area climb the pillar.

One of the Longsa villagers clambered up the pillar using his hands while another acted like a bear. One villager acted like a hen, while another mimicked a monkey.

They clambered down fast in a way that could scrape one?s palms and heels. There was much laughter and applause in response.

It was a display of both strength and the striking closeness to nature and forests that the Naga forefathers displayed in every sphere of life.

?The closeness to nature is very apparent though hunting was rampant in early days. But our forefathers had a general rule of not hunting during the mating season for wildlife,? said Imti Imsong, one of the organisers. A majority of Nagaland?s wildlife is endangered due to indiscriminate hunting and felling of forests.

The festival, which is celebrated after sowing, is a five-day extravaganza to invoke the gods for a bumper harvest.

After the Longsa village chief exhorted fellow villagers by spilling rice beer, youth displayed bonhomie through traditional games.

Most programmes during the festival see politicians occupying centrestage. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio graced the celebrations at Chungtia village in Mokokchung district on Tuesday. In Dimapur, it was former legislator and minister S.I. Jamir who participated as chief guest. Legislator K.V. Pusa presided over the function at Ungma village.

Rio, in his speech, exhorted the people to help the government in bringing back permanent peace to the state.