Aizawl: Mizoram marked the grand finale of its spring festival Chapchar Kut with vibrant cultural performances and traditional celebrations at Lammual Ground in Aizawl on Friday, where Chief Minister Lalduhoma called on citizens to uphold the values of accountability and reconciliation in society.
The week-long festivities concluded under the theme “Zo Nun Ze Mawi: Inremna” (Mizo Ethics: Reconciliation) and drew a large gathering that included Governor V K Singh, Art and Culture Minister C Lalsawivunga, and people from across the state.
Addressing the event as the “Kut Pa” (Father of the festival), Lalduhoma emphasised that reconciliation has long been a cornerstone of Mizo identity.
He urged people to cultivate the courage to accept responsibility for their actions rather than blaming others.
According to the chief minister, genuine reconciliation begins when individuals acknowledge their mistakes and take ownership of them, a principle he said could help foster peace and harmony in society.
He also reflected on the contrast between traditional Mizo values and the increasingly confrontational tone of modern political discourse.
Lalduhoma cautioned citizens—especially young people—against toxic behaviour on social media and criticised practices such as burning effigies during protests, saying they are inconsistent with the cultural ethos of the Mizo community.
The chief minister noted that even in the past, when disagreements arose during councils of elders, discussions were ultimately resolved through reconciliation and unity.
He urged people to preserve this spirit even amid political differences.
The celebrations were the culmination of events held across Mizoram since March 9.
The festival week featured exhibitions of handloom, textiles and handicrafts, food processing displays, food courts, a flower show, and a “living museum” portraying traditional Mizo life.
Photo and painting exhibitions were also organised, along with a special film screening on the history of Chapchar Kut.
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Chapchar Kut is traditionally observed in March after the most labour-intensive stage of jhum cultivation, when forests have been cleared and the cut vegetation is left to dry before burning.
Historians trace the origins of the festival to between the 15th and 17th centuries in the village of Suaipui near present-day Myanmar.
Although the celebration declined after the arrival of Christian missionaries in the late 19th century, who discouraged such traditional festivities, it was revived in 1973 in a modern form without animistic rituals or alcohol.
The festival in Aizawl on Friday also attracted visitors from different parts of India and abroad, along with ethnic Mizo communities from neighbouring states, adding to the colourful atmosphere of the celebrations.
