LAGAIP DISTRICT PREPARES TO HOST SANGAI FESTIVAL

By Mortimer YANGHARRY

The 6th Lagaip Sangai Festival will be held from July 25- 26 at Wanepap Station near Laiagam township in the Lagaip District of Enga Province.

Lagaip Sangai Festival Chairman Tony Sulupin said that the Lagaip Sangai Festival was recorded as one of the biggest cultural events in the country.

“The sangai magical power was preserved and observed with ultimate respect by elders and passed on to young bachelors during their initiation rituals which took place in secret bushes spanning for a week,”

“Sangai guided young Engans to live full-filling lives in accordance with customary codes and norms and which prepared them with necessary skills and courage to handle any challenges they might encounter in their quest to become men of their own little away from parental bondage,” Sulupin said.

He highlighted that as a result of the sacredness of sangai, Engans were naturally law abiding people, maintaining a high standard of moral values and principles of their ancestors who adapted and practised for so long with a sense of respect, peace and solidarity.

“Regretably sangai together with many cultures and traditions of Enga have been discontinued due to globalization which have had radical influences on the indigenous villages,” he said.

Sulupin mentioned with profound sadness that all those good days have gone and today the world around is ruled by thugs and hooligans causing unprecedented destruction to innocent lives and properties undermining the rule of law of this land.

“The intent of the The Lagaip Sangai Festival is to correct those mistakes and try to bring old memories back to our young generations so they should better understand and appreciate the past way of life when pure wisdom ruled,” he said.

Sulupin mentioned that this year’s festival would be supported by the Enga Provincial Government, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority and the National Cultural Commission.