AIZAWL: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Friday called upon the people of the state to value and promote rich Mizo culture and code of ethics as the northeastern state celebrated Chapchar Kut.
Chapchar Kut is the most important and biggest festival of the Mizos, which is celebrated in March after completion of the most arduous task of Jhum operation (jungle-clearing).
The festival was celebrated with fanfare and cultural fervour in all parts of the state and the grand celebration was held at Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl.
Addressing the event in Aizawl, Lalduhoma, who was the “Kut Pa” or father of the festival on the occasion, said that ‘Tlawmngaina,’ a Mizo ethic of selflessness, which is the theme of Chapchar Kut, has been the guiding force behind the unification and survival of the Mizos as sub-nation.
Citing that the Mizo culture has gradually dwindled and diluted in the present days due to imitation of other cultures, the chief minister urged the people to revive and value the rich culture of the Mizos.
He said that a festival like Chapchar Kut is an important occasion for exposing and promoting rich Mizo culture and code of ethics.
He said that the Mizo forefathers in the past strictly stick to the Mizo ethics of Tlawmngaina and ‘Sem sem dam dam, ei bil thi thi’ (meaning those who share their things with others survive and those who hoard die) and these ethics are still now powerful weapons for building a nation.
Lalduhoma pointed out that Mizoram now has the dubious distinction of being the highest cancer incidence state in the country mainly due to tobacco consumption, highest AIDS/HIV prevalence state due to sexual immorality, high drug-user state and high divorce rate.
“We should shun all these social evils and wrong practices that can bring bad reputation to our community and to ensure that we get a lasting peace,” he said.
The chief minister also called for collective efforts to reform the state.
Taiwan Ambassador Bhausuan Ger and his wife Hui- Chen Chen also took part at the Chapchar Kut celebration in Aizawl.
One of the most eye-catching performances during the festival was “Cheraw”- bamboo dance performed by various Young Mizo Association (YMA) branches across the state capital.
Many cultural items and folksongs recalling the history and traditions of Mizos, were also performed.
‘Chhawnghnawh,’ a pre-Christian custom of stuffing boiled eggs into each other’s mouths was also revived in the festival.
Chapchar Kut is estimated to have started in 1450-1700 A.D. in a village called Suaipui.
The festival was discouraged when the English missionaries came to Mizoram as it was felt that it did not adhere to Christian values.
However, it was revived in 1973 on a mass scale sans animistic practice and alcohol.