Chapchar Kut
"
Kut" means festival in Mizo parlance, and the state
of Mizoram celebrates 3 of them: Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut. All are
connected with agricultural activities, and all are celebrated with feasts and
dances.
Chapchar Kut celebrates the arrival of spring. The festival begins with Kut
Puipate , the inauguration ceremony, followed by the Then Katna , arranging
of the dance groups in the stadium. Once the Then Hnihna begins, elders, dressed
in traditional costumes to represent the various tribes of the region, take
part in a fantastic procession called Kut rore. This is followed by various
tribal dances, the most important being the Cheraw (bamboo dance). The function
ends with the Then Thumna, an event where local singers present traditional
popular songs, with the cheering crowd joining in.
