Fest doubles as anti-graft drive

Kohima, April 22: The three-day Mélange 2016, part of a campaign to root out corruption and promote self-reliance, got under way at Zunheboto town yesterday.

Organised by the Zunheboto Town Youth Organisation, it also aims to promote culture.

The organisers said it was a platform to unite the people and educate the youths about their cultural heritage.

The first day of the festival saw a host of cultural events, including traditional games and sports, and the opening of the stalls.

Other highlights of the ceremony included the festival anthem, a folk song presentation by Cornerstone Higher Secondary School and war dance from Bloom Field School.

The festival is part of the "Awake Zunheboto" campaign of the organisation and is being celebrated under the theme "Being Sumi".

The Awake Zunheboto theme song was released today at indihut.com. The lyrics are by Vihuto Asumi and the music is composed and directed by Aron Asumi.

Asumi is a pianist, violinist, composer, performer and a music teacher, as well as the director of Immanuel Music Academy, Zunheboto. He has released an instrumental piano album titled Tomorrow Awaits with a sheet music book. He is now working on a new instrumental album at the moment.

The anthem is a call to all the youth to wake up and come forward to build Zunheboto.

Visitors to Zunheboto town this month will see red - in the form of little red flags atop houses, on vehicles - that is part of its campaign against corruption.

This is the first time that Sumi youths will come together at Zunheboto local ground for this campaign along with the celebration.

"Corruption is widespread here. Bureaucrats and politicians use the excuse of (lack of) funds to deny us development, but the real reason behind lack of development is corruption," a source in the organisation said.

The campaign will see a string of activities throughout the year.

The festival itself will include a bazaar that will provide a platform to local entrepreneurs to showcase their talent.

The organisers have chosen an elder as the Father of the Festival who has been invited to share his wisdom with the youth. No monetary donations will be taken, and no grand felicitations made.

The festival will conclude tomorrow. Several hundred youths are taking part in the celebration.