Fairs & Festival

The traditional repertoire of festivals and folk and community dances offer visitors a delightful insight into the tribal heritage of Mizo culture in all its richness and variety. Surprisingly, some of the most popular dances like the Cheraw ( bamboo dance ), Khuallam, Solakia and Chheih Lam were never created for stage - rather they evolved out a spontaneous community spirit and participation.

Festivals are called Kut in Mizo language.All the three festivals are connected with agricultural activities. The festivals are celebrated with feasts and dances.

Chapchar Kut (March) is the three-day spring festival marked by singing and dancing and festive costumes by the tribals. Mim Kut ( August / September ) and Pawl Kut ( December ) are harvest festivals.

Chapchar Kut
Some of the most colourful renditions of the traditional Chapchar Kut ( Spring Festival ) are the ones organised by the Young Mizo Association ( YMA ) which has spearheaded the revival of old cultural traditions in Mizoram. Each major village has a YMA branch so it is possible to time a trip to watch this famous festival in all its traditional pageantry.

The seven-day festival is usually held in the first week of March. This is when visitors get to see the local people in their rich ceremonial costumes. The traditional dresses, the jewellery, the exotic headdress and weapons worn by the representatives of each tribe showcases the most colourful aspects of Mizo culture in the finest tradition. Kut Puipate is the inaugural ceremony, which is followed by the Then Katna when the dancers get ready for the performance. The most important dance on the programme is the famous Cheraw or bamboo dance.

Thalfavang Kut
The State celebrates the festival of Thalfavang Kut every November. This festival is celebrated in connection with the completion of weeding the land in preparation of the forthcoming harvest. This period of leisure and free time has been a period of celebration and relaxation.

This festival also depicts the cultural heritage and the traditional games of the Mizos. It has given an opportunity for the community to come together and renew old bonds and ties.

Mim Kut
The Mim Kut was a festival celebrated before the hard work in the jhum was over. It would take place in September. The festival lasting for one or two days would be in memory of someone who had died during the previous year. Fresh vegetables, maize bread, necklaces and cloth would be placed on the memorials of the dead as offerings to them. It was believed that their spirits would revisit their house during the Mim Kut. Zu would be taken in houses in which someone had died during the year. On the second day everybody would have a meal of bread.

Pawl Kut
Pawl Kut was the harvest festival which was celebrated after the village had gathered its harvest. Lasting for one to two days, the villagers would feast and dance in thanksgiving for the harvest.

There is a legend regarding the origin of this festival. In the olden days when the Mizos were living to the east of the Tiau river in the chin hills, which is now in Burma, there was famine for three consecutive years. In the fourth year the people had a bumper crop. The people believed that this was a blessing of the supreme god and as a thanksgiving they celebrated Pawl Kut.

It was customary for everyone to eat meat and eggs during Pawl Kut. A few days before the day is fixed for the feast, the men would go out hunting wild animals, trapping birds or fishing. One would get as much meat as one's means would permit. Even the poorest would kill at least a fowl for the household feast. As in Chapchar Kut, mothers and children would gather together at the Lungdawh bringing with them plates of rice, boiled eggs and meat and feed one another performing Chhawnghnawt. The youngmen and girls would also attend the Chhawnghnawt. The men would gather in the houses of well-to-do persons and Zu would be drunk. The festivities were followed by Eipuar Awm Ni or the day of rest. As Christianity spreads in Mizoram these festivals gradually faded out.

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