Union Minister for Communications and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, attended the traditional stone-pulling ceremony at Tuophema village on Friday as part of the ongoing Hornbill Festival celebrations.

Describing his visit as an honour, the Minister said witnessing the ceremony in its authentic form offered a meaningful insight into the unity, resilience, and cultural depth of the Angami community. He highlighted how traditions like stone-pulling reflect the community’s long-standing values of cooperation, strength, and shared identity.

Scindia commended the people of Tuophema for preserving their heritage while continuing to embrace development. He noted that the ceremony stands as a symbolic representation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi”—a developmental approach that emphasises progress without compromising cultural legacy.

The Minister added that the spirit of Tuophema illustrates how communities can uphold ancestral wisdom even as they move confidently toward modern growth, making the Hornbill Festival a powerful platform for celebrating and safeguarding India’s diverse cultural traditions.