AIZAWL, Dec 27 NNN: Christmas, the most important and joyous festival for the Mizos after the advent of Christianity, was celebrated with much enthusiasm and great fervor across the state during the last three days with carol songs, prayer and worship services, followed by fellowships and singing of traditional Christmas songs composed by Mizo composers in the typical Mizo tunes; and community feasts, an important tradition of the Mizos during festivities even before Christian missionaries came here, were held in all parts of the state, which continues even till today.
The Christmas celebration here in Mizoram, as of every year, started from December 24 evening, popularly known as ‘Urlawk Zan’ (Pre- Christmas evening) and continued till December 26. However, the celebration is continued even today in many parts of the state.
Besides in Aizawl, Christmas feasts were organized in different district headquarters and in different rural places across the state on December 26, while in the mean time there were some churches which organized the Christmas feasts on the Christmas Day, but still continues the following day and some even today.
Christmas was celebrated peacefully in all the districts of the state and there have been no reports of undesirable incidents which could have disturbed the Christmas celebration. Rather, report from Lunglei district has it that 38 people from Chakma community of Kawrpuichhuah village near Bangladesh boundary, converted themselves to Christianity, and were baptized by Baptist Evangelist.
Except a case of a man killed by a car accident near Champhai yesterday and one house which caught fire in Kolasib Venglai, no other incidents were reported during the Christmas celebration. Report of the motor accident says that one Alto car which came from Lawngtlai to attend funeral in Champhai, unfortunately met with accident at around 9 am on December 26 before reaching Champhai, after crossing Tuipui. The driver, Lalthangluaia, known as Luaitea, 48 years old, who belonged to Lawngtlai Bazar Veng died on the spot, while three other passengers were fortunate enough as they have no serious injuries. Sources informed that the driver of the car was believed to be slumbering, as while driving on straight road the car fell to about 120 feet down from the road. The fortunate 3 passengers, were taken to Champhai hospital, and after given first-aid, they were discharged again. The dead body of Lalthangluia, on the other, after autopsy, was taken to Lawngtlai.
In another incident in Kolasib Venglai, one house was gutted on the eve of Christmas, but fortunately no one got injured from the incident. Sources from Kolasib Venglai YMA informed that at around 9:30 and 10 pm. on December 24, one house within Kolasib Venglai area, at Silchar Road caught fire but the reason for the fire not known but it was believed that the incident could be due to candle light which was left being lighted.
As was the atmosphere in every year, Aizawl city remained silent and the streets were left open, which meant that people went to churches and attend various programmes of gathering on Christmas celebration.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/christmas-celebrated-at-mizoram/
