Marking 100 years of the people of Moyon Naga community embracing Christianity, the Moyon Naga Baptist Association (MYNBA) on Friday commemorated the Moyon Naga Christian Centennial Celebration in a grand manner.
Seeking the Almighty’s blessing with the hoisting of the Moyon Naga Baptist Association flag by the president of MYNBA, Rev Benion Benhur Ngoruw, and releasing of pigeons marked the opening ceremony of the centennial celebration.
The celebration was hosted by the Kapaam Baptist Church in Chandel district.
As a part of the celebration, monuments were unveiled at MYNBA Campus, Penaching and at Kapaam Baptist Church campus by the family members of Moyon Christian pioneers besides releasing a souvenir by the chief of Kapaam Village, Borpha Serbum.
A large number of the Moyon people living across Chandel district thronged the celebration venue where various spiritual and cultural programmes will continue to be showcased during the three-day long celebration.
Executive secretary of MYNBA, Koningthung Ngoruw, while speaking as the dedication minister, expressed pride of all the Moyon Naga for getting the wisdom of education since the very early period with the adoption of Christianity since 1922.
He also informed that the Moyon Naga is one of the oldest tribes of Manipur and cited the article written by Meitei scholar Kulachandra which mentioned that the Moyon Naga existed since the BC period.
Although the Moyon Naga tribe is small in population numbering around 3,500 in all, the community has played a vital role in the state through various welfare activities such as academically or spreading the ideology of Christianity, he added.
He conveyed the message of peace, unity and love among all the ethnic groups of Manipur and to head towards a progressive society.
The celebration also witnessed various church leaders and prominent figures of the Moyon Naga community.
It is also graced by Rev Dr Akheto Sema, general secretary CBCNEI; Rev K Losii Mao, general secretary MBC and Rev Dr Roel Philip, former president MYNBA as the main speaker of this event.