We arrived in Mizoram just a few days prior to the main festival of the Mizos, Chapchar Kut. It must have been the arrangement of God that we happened to be here for this great festival. We only came here to be with our friend Andrew and he introduced us to the festival. Actually, he just mentioned that we were fortunate to arrive at the time of the main festival, but since he was so enthusiastic about it, he triggered our curiosity and a desire to take part in the festival.

During the night there had been heavy rain and the path was muddied when our friend took us to the big play ground in the middle of the city, not far from our hotel. Everywhere we met Mizos in their beautiful and colourful tribal costumes. The ladies were most beautiful with their crowns. The outfit of the men were a bit simpler, but still colourful.

The minister of Art & Culture was Kut Thlengtu (Host of the Festival) and the Chief Minister was the Kut Pa (the Father of the festival). The Kut Pa in his speech emphasised the importance of peace among the people and among all the tribes of Mizoram. He told us that the ancestors started to celebrate the festival when they realised the needs of brotherhood, peace and unity among the several clans of the Mizos.

I would think that more than 5000 people attended the festival. We saw a colourful show of songs and dances, costumes show etc on par with traditional values of Mizo community. As the people in large numbers with traditional attires thronged the venue it reminded me of the Norwegian 17 of May celebration on our Constitution Day. It was a special blessing that the entire festival was dedicated to the glory of God by a Presbyterian priest at the beginning. We had beautiful choirs and even a group of tambourine players with brass music from the Salvation Army.

The Mizos are really excellent singers. So many clever artists took part. The people were dancing everywhere to the music and the songs. Certainly the Mizos like dancing. I was intrigued by an old man in front of us, who suddenly stepped out of his chair and started to dance beautifully when a lady artist sung one of the traditional songs of the Mizos. In the play ground groups of young people were dancing everywhere.

The main feature of the Chapchar Kut was the Bamboo Dance. It seemed to me to be hundreds of groups of Bamboo Dancers dancing at the same time. The entire play ground was moving in the same rhythm of the music. It was like, colourful waves upon colourful waves, were moving across the crowd of dancers in their wonderful costumes. It was really an experience!  I was amazed that we only saw two to three other tourists like ourselves on the ground, because this festival was really worth attending.