Mail News Service Imphal, Nov 1 : The biggest post harvest festival of the Kuki-Mizo-Chin group ‘Chavang Kut 2012’ was celebrated presenting rich traditional dance and songs organized by State Level Kut Committee, Manipur at the 1st Manipur Rifles ground here on Thursday. The day falls on Novermber 1 every year. It is one of the most anticipated calendar day for the Kuki-Chin-Mizo group of Manipur and elsewhere. One of the few occasions, KUT (as it is called) symbolises happiness and health, hard work and toil, peace and brotherhood, abundance and hope. Young and old, kings and paupers, strong and weak are united in the spirit of ancestral unity. Traditionally, locally brewed beers were exchanged within a village marking an end to agricultural drudgery consequent to plentiful harvest. The day officially announces the beginning of leisure and game. Cut to modern days, the festival has been laced with festoons and fanfare with the showcasing of tradition within the modern context. The festival is in this sense, a link between the gapping hole of tradition and modernity. For the people of Chin-Kuki-Mizo, it is a time to retrospect about the past and look forward to the future with optimistic zeal. Diaspora of Kuki-Chin-Mizo takes time out to reunite with their roots despite the mad search for global identity. For those unable to make a connection to their forefathers’ blood-drench soil of Manipur, they still make an effort by organising Kut wherever they may be roaming. Governor Gurbhachan Jagat said the Kuki-Mizo-Chin groups have their own unique and distinct cultural heritage and this is reflected in their various festivals. Kut is one such festival held during autumn and this festival provides an opportunity to not only make merry but to introspect on our past and plan for the future. This festival which includes songs and dances is now participated in not only by the Kuki-Mizo-Chin groups but by other communities also thereby strengthening the bonds of friendship and is a harbinger of peace, harmony and progress. Citizens of Manipur as responsible people and should ensure that we settle our differences through talks and negotiations and not resort to violence, including bandhs and blockades. Let us set aside our differences and resolve not to resort to bandhs and blockades as it severely impacts the poorer section of the society more. Let us cast aside our self centered egos and policies of the various ethnic groups and work for the overall welfare of the State. Kut is the time to do this as this festival exemplifies gratefulness, compassion, and gaiety. Emotional integration cannot be achieved in a single day but a start needs to be made so that we can build on it. Chief Minister Ibobi has appealed for the peace and harmony in Manipur. Gracing the evening session of Kut celebration, Ibobi Singh talked for peaceful co-existence among the various communities in the State. No group should work against the interest of a particular community but rather maintain communal harmony, Ibobi said. Even though Manipur is a tiny State it is known as a mini India by many because of its multifarious communities and that in the over 2000 years of its history it has witnessed co-existence among different communities. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the State Level Kut Committee, Manipur for inviting him to the event as well as for organizing it. Home minister Gaikhangam also addressed the function marking the inauguration of the auspicious and joyous occasion of Kut. He prayed to Almighty to bring peace, prosperity and integrity in the State of Manipur with the celebration of the festival. The state Home minister also expressed gratification to see hundreds of people from different communities of the State congregating and participating the occasion. “Although Manipur is a small State it is inhabited by people of different caste and creeds rich in culture, tradition and discipline since very long time,” Gaikhangam hailed. Manipur does not lag behind other states of India in various fields such as religion and many other podiums, and the integrity of the different communities has beautified the State to the highest degree, he further affirmed. Maj Gen KK Sinha, SM, General Officer Commanding and all Ranks of Red Shield Division extended warm greetings and sincere goodwill to the people of Manipur on the auspicious occasion on “Kut”. The Festival of Harvesting. The General Officer Commanding expressed the hope that the festival would foster peace, harmony, prosperity among all community of the State.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kut-festival-celebrated-amid-call-for-peace-harmony/
