Chavang Kut celebrated in Dima Hasao

The people, belonging to the Kuki community celebrated the ‘CHAVANG KUT’ (Autumn Festival of Kukis) with traditional fervor and grandeur on November 1 in all most all the villages inhabited by the Kuki people in Dima Hasao district.

Here at hasflong also, under the aegis of Songpijang Youth Club,the 22nd Chavang Kut was celebrated with daylong programme at Songpijang Play ground. The Day’ s programmes atarted with the unfurling of Kut’s flag by the Chief Guest Dr T. Haolai, JT. Director, Heath Service, Haflong. This was followed by the felicitation of Chief Guests, Kut dedication service by Rev L. Singson and welcome speech by Sri T. Doungel, President, SYC.

The spectacular performances of traditional dances by several groups from Haflong were the central attraction of festival. Traditional games and sports was also organized during midday wherein numbers of youths took part. In the evening, traditional couple show and Fancy dress competition were organized along with munsical entertainment which kept the audience mesmerized till late night. The Chavang Kut is the major festival of the CHIN-KUKI community all over the world. This festival is celebrated specially in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Chin state in Myanmar, Delhi and in Shillong etc.

This festival is celebrated after most of the harvest is over. The villagers, the show their gratitude to the Lord, who permits them strength and long life and all the good things to them, they sing and dance praising the Lord. In this festival, folk songs are sung with traditional dances. During the observance of the festival people try to show their expertise in playing Goshem, Selki, Phit, Dahpi, the traditional musical instruments. With the urbanization, they now use to organize not only the traditional items but also the fashion show competition like Mr. and Miss Kut. Apart from this, they also organize traditional games and sports. Though the advent of modernization has caste impacts on traditional customs in some urban areas, but in villages, these traditional things are still in practice with some modification.

During the festival traditional dances like SAGOL PHEIKHAI, SELPANG LAM, LOMLAM, JANCHA LAM,VACOL LAM, PHEIPHIT LAM, SALU LAM, GAL LAM, SUHTA LAM, MOLKANG LAM, (stick dance) KHUL LAM were performed with the tune of musical instruments like – Gosem, Sumkon, Pheiphit, khong, Dahpi, Dahbu, selki, lhemlhei, theile etc. Though the Cavang Kut is being considered to be the major festival,other festivals like Chapphou Kut, Mim kut and lholhum kut are also there to be mentioned.