I had this rare chance to witness Mizoram’s biggest festival, Chapchar Kut, on the 2nd of March in the year 2018. I had been part of a visiting team of participants of the 23rd Orientation Programme, HRDC, Mizoram University.
Performers, 15000 in all, performed in the event as Mizoram bathes in its real glory during Chapchar Kut. Chapchar Kut is a public holiday as festive spirit grips the North-Eastern state of Mizoram.
It is an annual harvest festival of the North-Eastern state of Mizoram. It is a spring festival celebrated with great fervour and gaiety. The festival is observed in the last part of February or the early part of March. This is the time when the trees and bamboos felled for jhum cultivation are left to dry.
Drumbeats and 'gongs' resonate all around the place as thousands of Mizos took to the ground to celebrate their colourful festival. It is a celebration held in anticipation of a golden harvest. The sight of men and women dressed in colourful traditional dresses is truly spellbinding. All the people gather for a huge community fest to sing and dance to the tune of flute, cymbals, drums and gongs.
Place
Chapchar Kut takes place on the Assam Rifles ground in Lammual and involves around 15,000 performers and most of the spectators also get involved in proceedings. Participants
People from various tribes from every nook and corner of the state throng the venue. They take part in the cultural procession called 'Kut rore'. Local singers also join the fest to croon the best folk songs.
Thousands of young girls, decked in colourful traditional Mizo outfits called 'Puanchei', go on a dancing spree. They dance to the beats of bamboo, also known as the Cheraw dance. While the men were seen sitting on the ground and beat the bamboos.
People dance, perform skits, play musical instruments to celebrate their beloved festival with the aims of bringing camaraderie among the people.
A costume parade and various Mizo traditional games were also part of the festival.
Music: RU-vid Audio Library
@BhupenRb
14 окт 2024
