Ukhrul, Feb. 15 -- Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday unveiled a commemorative monolith at Ukhrul headquarters during the celebration of Lui-Ngai-Ni, the seed-sowing festival of the Naga community, and stressed the urgent need to expedite the long-pending Naga political settlement under the Framework Agreement.

Lui-Ngai-Ni, meaning "Seed Sowing Festival," is celebrated by Naga tribes with the onset of spring. The festival marks an auspicious time for sowing seeds and invoking blessings for a bountiful harvest. It was declared a State Festival by the Government of Manipur in 1988, and in 1997, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, recognised it as one of the country's official tourist festivals.

Attending the event as ...