Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: Ungma village residents gathered at Soyim Aonglenden on Tuesday to welcome Guru Sangyusang Pongener home. The Padma Shri awardee received a warm reception at the village gate from the Ungma Village Council. Prayers marked the start of the event before the crowd moved to the main stage.
Born in 1945, Pongener spent sixty years mastering indigenous folk arts. He acts as the general secretary for the Naga Wadir Welfare Cultural Club. His work keeps Ao Naga traditions alive for the next generation. He has trained over 2,000 young artists and mentored more than 100 apprentices. His folk compositions regularly hit stages both at home and abroad.
Pongener holds several titles, including the 2002 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and a 2017 Governor’s Award. He currently mentors students through the KALA DEEKSHA program. During the ceremony, he thanked the state, the central government, and his family for their backing. Addressing the crowd, he said, "the award was a blessing bestowed by the community."
The veteran artist plans to build an academy for youth soon. Representatives from the local government, Ao Senden, and cultural groups spoke at the event. The Watemdong Cultural Club closed the program with a special song performance.
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