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Festivals of Mizoram
Mizoram has an ancient and incredibly rich tradi-
tion with dances which reflect the amalgamation of
centuries of cross-cultural inputs. The indigenous
festivals of this beautiful state mirror it’s diverse
heritage during the celebration of the seasonal cycle
of sowing and harvesting.
 and trophies. 
‘Kut’ is the Mizo word for ‘Festival’. Since Mizos are
agriculturist in occupation, all the festivals are clo-
sely associated with agricultural activities. The major
festivals of the Mizos areChapcharKut(March),Mim
Kut & Pawl Kut (November/December) andThal-
favang Kut(November).
 
Various indigenous musical instruments used du-
ring these festivities as accompaniments such as
the «tingtang» (Guitar), a string instrument and the
«Phenglawng» ( a flute). The revivalist movement
of old traditions has been the reappearance of love
songs and lullabies originating from the time of the
great migrations from Burma.
 festivities. To attain a position of distinction, a Mizo
 
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hapchar Kut » 
At the end of February, when winter starts
receding, the Mizos prepare the land for fresh
planting. There are few days of relaxation before the
serious business of sowing starts and that is when
the Chapchar Kut festival is celebrated with gaiety
and fervour. A spring festival, this is the most im-
portant festival and the only one regularly observed
during the first week of March in Mizoram. 
joliprint
 
On this day people of all ages, young and old, men
and women dressed in their colorful costumes and
distinctive head gears and jewelries, assemble and
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perform various folk dances, singing traditional
songs accompanied by beating of drums, gongs and
cymbals. 

They dance in joyous celebration of life, each team
displaying the best of its region. These are generally
group dances with a lot of bonhomie and courting
woven into them. Some dances are strictly martial
danced by strong virile warriors with their weapons

One dance perennially popular is the Cheraw or the
«bamboo dance» so called as long bamboo staves
are used for this dance. This is the most colourful
and distinctive dance of the Mizos requiring skill
and an alert mind to perform.
The other main dances performed during Chapchar
Kut are Khuallam, Chheihlam, Chai and Sarlamkai.


«Khual lam» is an auspicious dance performed by a
group of dancers celebrating new beginnings. It is
also a welcome dance for guests during community
had to go through a series of ceremonies and per-
form many feats of heroic deeds. These ceremonies
are always accompanied by a feast and to this feast,
friends from nearby villages are invited - hence,
Khuallam is the dance for the visitors or guests.

The «Chheih lam» is another community dance per-
formed by both men and women. The war dance
«Solakia», a prerogative of the male population of
the community, is accompanied by rhythmic beating
of the drums.
Exhibition and sale of indigenous Handloom and
Handicraft products and other tourist attractions
like flower show, food festival, musical competition
and different traditional games are also organized
during the Chapchar Kut festival.
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Festivals of Mizoram



Mim Kut & Pawl Kut »
These festivals are celebrated in the last week of
November or the first week of December (part of
the tourist season) to celebrate the completion of
the harvesting season. The entire community joins
in the celebration with great enthusiasm, joy and
feasting. Traditional folk dances, songs and games
are performed during the festival. 

Thalfavang Kut »
Mizoram celebrates the festival of Thalfavang Kut
every November. This festival is celebrated after the
completion of weeding of the land in preparation
for the forthcoming harvesting season. This festival
also depicts the cultural heritage and the traditional
games of the Mizo. It has given the community an
opportunity to come together and renew old bonds
and ties.

Christmas »
Since the majority of the population is Christian,
Christmas is one of the most important events of
the Mizos. This festival is usually celebrated from
24th December to 26th December. Christmas Eve
is celebrated on the 24th followed by celebrations
in the church on the 25th of December. On the last
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day a great feast is organized where everyone from

children to adults take part with great fervor and
festivities.
joliprint
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