With the advent of Christianity in Mizoram through the European Missionaries in the late 19th century, the traditional festivals of the Mizo, including the Chapchar Kut celebrated here in 13, March 2009, became less significant.

Many years late, the Mizos realized the need to revive their cultures of the pre-Christian era without comprising the Bible.
"The newly converts and the missionaries felt most of the cultural traditions of the heathen Mizos, including the observance of Chapchar Kut and other Kuts, which were so profusely connected with animistic practices and drinking of zu (Rise beer) were unbecoming of Christianity. The newly converted Christians were therefore forbidden to participate and indulge in them,” said Art & Culture Minister PC Zoramsangliana while addressing the daylong Chapchar Kut festival at the Assam Rifles Ground here 13-March-2009.

However, with the increase of educated men among in the Mizos and the increasing exposure to outside world, there was an increasing opinion that our cultural heritage could be refined and sieved without compromising with the teaching of the Bible.

Around 1930 some nationalistic minded Mizo Government Employees celebrated Chapchar Kut in a low profile. The Mizo District Council 1952 passed a bill for the observe Chapchar Kut and public celebration of the festivals on a large scale and in an organized manner happened only from 1960 onwards.

“Now the Mizo Christians no longer look askance as detrimental to our integrity to the faith but rather as an enrichment of Christian brotherhood world wide,” Zoramsanga said, adding, “Let us Kut (Celebrate_ with Jesus,”. Clad in colorful traditional attires, people of all ages, young and old, men and women flocked to the Assam Rifles’ Ground in here today to celebrate Chapchar Kut the Biggest festival of the Mizo.

There was colors everywhere as the air was reverberated with music a perfect blending of traditional and western. Gracing the daylong festivals as Kut pa or Father of the Festival, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, dressed in traditional chieftain’s attire, said, “It is highly appreciable that we have realized the need to keep alive our traditions without compromising our religious belief. As India is a land of Unity diversity, the central Government is committed to protect each and every culture in exchange is an important tool for national integrity,” he said, adding that the government would take all efforts to expose the Mizo cultures to the rest of the country and the world.

Besides, Mizoram,Mizo tribes from the neighboring states also participated at the festival which showcased various Mizo cultural dances, songs and music, fashion parade and demonstrations and traditions.

Tourist, from Japan and US and domestic tourist from various parts of the Country were enthralled by the colorful and rhythmic dances of the Mizos. The Diversity and rich cultures of India is just incredible. I never though this type of Culture, totally diverse from the mainland India would exist in the country,” said a foreign tourist who witnessed the festival today.

State top Officials, including officers of the security forces, hugely attended the festival. Chapchar Kut was also celebrated in the rest of the district capitals, foe which Rs 50,000 each had been allocated, according to the official sources. click here more photo