Guwahati: Mizoram’s 2026 festival season began on Wednesday with the launch of the state’s first ‘Pluck & Pay’ Festival in Tualte and Chawngtlai villages of Khawzawl district.
Organised jointly by the Tourism Department, Government of Mizoram, and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Khawzawl, the three-day festival will continue from September 23 to 25.
The festival introduces a community-based tourism model where visitors can enter local farms, harvest fresh produce themselves and pay directly for what they pick. The initiative aims to connect tourism with agriculture, horticulture, local food and rural livelihoods.
Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said the initiative reflects the state’s broader vision of ensuring that tourism generates greater economic opportunities for communities hosting visitors.
The festival also seeks to create wider economic linkages by encouraging visitors to engage with local farms, cuisine, homestays, transportation services, guides, handicrafts and cultural activities.
Beyond farm experiences, the three-day programme features traditional Mizo music and dance, local cuisine, handicrafts, cultural performances and Mizo recreational games, along with visits to historical and tourist sites.
The event in Khawzawl comes as Mizoram begins its 2026 festival calendar, which also includes the Anthurium Festival in Reiek, Hnahsin Kût in Champhai and Travel Fest in Aizawl, followed by events such as the Leitlangpui Music Festival, Winter Festival, Tlaizawng Paradise Festival and Sakawrhmuituai Sunset Event.
According to figures presented in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, tourist arrivals in the state increased from 4,27,302 in 2024 to 8,41,322 in 2025, highlighting the growing tourism market in the state.