Sisters Merenyangla Pongener (left) and Nungshitula Pongener sing a song at Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, Yunnan province, Oct 15, 2024. [Photo by Chen Liubing/chinadaily.com.cn]
Singer and composer Nungshitula Pongener and singer and conductor Merenyangla Pongener are sisters, who performed together many times during the trip.
Nungshitula, the younger sister, was very interested in the Chinese language and asked the delegation interpreter to teach her some simple Chinese words at the airport. She soon found herself learning the Chinese language quickly, with very good pronunciation.
Merenyangla, the elder sister, was very curious about Chinese youth culture. She was interested in the websites and apps that Chinese people use to listen to music and watch videos.
During the visit, some members of the delegation found that many of Yunnan's ethnic groups, especially the Yi and Jingpo people, had many similarities in dress, language, food and architectures with their counterparts in India.
Naga was very excited while tasting steam-pot chicken, a Yunnan-style dish, saying that in India, they also have this kind of chicken soup, but with ginger and garlic.
Swu said that the musicians learned so much by coming to China and he hopes the trip marks the beginning of increased people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
"Maybe we should come back here again and do some research and stay longer, and go to the villages of the Yi and Jingpo people to take a look," Swu added.
Zhang Zhizhong, director of the bilateral section, Consulate General of China in Kolkata, India, said that this is the third delegation that the consulate has sent to Yunnan this year, with three Indian Buddhist monks having visited the province in April, and 10 artists and young scholars in July who participated events at the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum.
Zhang also said he hopes this activity will become a new bridge in China-India people-to-people exchanges, with that being the purpose of this trip.
