The 57th Central Chalo Loku Festival — the premier post-harvest celebration of the Nocte community in Arunachal Pradesh — was held with great enthusiasm at Nehru Stadium, Khonsa, with Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein gracing the occasion as the chief guest. Celebrated centrally since 1968, Chalo Loku stands as a testament to Nocte heritage, the spirit of harvest, and the enduring unity of the community.
This year’s festivities attracted significant international attention, with 112 foreign tourists from eight nationalities visiting Tirap district to witness the unique traditions of the Nocte community, facilitated by the district Tourism Department on Monday. Addressing the gathering, Mein extended warm greetings to the Nocte people and explained the cultural significance of the festival, where “Chalo” denotes paddy — the backbone of agrarian life — and “Loku” signifies the transition from summer to winter. He highlighted that rituals such as Phamlamja, Chamkatja, Thanlangja and Rangsom Hum continue to preserve the spiritual and cultural essence of the tribe.
Stressing the importance of safeguarding indigenous culture amid rapid globalization, he said, “Our youth are talented and innovative. Let their creativity move us forward while staying firmly rooted in our identity,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister also recalled the historic recognition of the Nocte, Wancho, Tutsa and Tangsa tribes under the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order Amendment Bill, 2018, which corrected a long-standing denial of identity and accorded them their rightful constitutional status. He further stated that 66 border villages across Tirap, Changlang and Longding have been included under the Vibrant Village Programme, ensuring enhanced road connectivity, housing, livelihood opportunities, and basic infrastructure along the Indo-Myanmar border. Reaffirming the spirit of Unity in Diversity, Mein said that Arunachal’s many tribes, cultures and dialects together form “One Arunachal – One Family – One Culture.” He encouraged young leaders to promote cultural integration and foster mutual understanding through greater interaction among communities. During the occasion, the Deputy CM released two significant publications — ‘Miles Bronson and His Works Among the Noctes’ authored by Wangtum Lowang, and ‘Odyssey – the Chalo Loku Souvenir’ edited by Denhang Bosai.
He also launched the Nocte traditional shawl, initiated by Khunlong Matey and Khowang Hakhun, and released two newly produced Nocte audio albums — ‘Jovi Din’, sung by Manlang Agi, Baby Mossang, Toangi Agi and Ansiha Perme Agi, and ‘Oni Na’, penned by Khamwang Lowang and sung by Dr Vineeta Dowerah. Chief Patron and Borduria-Bogapani MLA Wanglin Lowangdong described Chalo Loku as a festival of joy, recreation and unity, celebrated after the completion of paddy harvesting.
He appealed for GI tagging of the Nocte Salt Well products, recognising their cultural and economic significance. In his welcome address, Jiten Wangchha, President of the 57th Nocte Chalo Loku Celebration Committee, stated that the festival marks not only the completion of the harvest but also the beginning of the Nocte New Year, underlining its deep cultural importance. The day-long programme featured log-drum performances by Borduria and Khoathong villages, vibrant folk dances, group performances by UKYA, Paniduria village and Nocte Jancho, culminating in the grand Loku dance followed by a community feast.