The 17th Upper Assam Chavang Kut festival was celebrated with great pomp and cultural splendour at the Sahitya Sabha Hall in Dibrugarh on Saturday, drawing members of the Kuki community and well-wishers from across upper Assam. Observed under the theme “Stronger Together: Honouring Our Past, Building Our Future,” the event showcased the rich traditions and unity of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes.
Chavang Kut is an autumn harvest festival celebrated by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes, primarily in Manipur and other northeastern states, on November 1 to express gratitude to deities for a bountiful harvest. The name combines chavang (autumn) and kut (harvest), and celebrations traditionally include dances, songs, feasts, sports, and cultural performances.
Kaikhohao Doungel, Superintendent of Central Goods & Service Tax and Customs, was the Chief Guest, while Dr Bharati Dutta, retired Associate Professor of DHSK College and an eminent academician, attended as Guest of Honour. Dr Lamkholal Doungel, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at DHSK College and Adviser of Kuki Inpi Assam, presided over the function. Pu Letkhokam Vaiphei served as the Kut Pa (Host) for the celebration.
The programme began with the welcoming of dignitaries, followed by the formal inauguration by the Kut Pa. In his welcome address, Pu Sangboi Doungel, Chairman of the Kut Celebration Committee, urged attendees to “celebrate the day in the true spirit of Kut—through rejoicing, dancing, and cherishing unity.”
The celebration featured vibrant traditional dances, folk songs, and contemporary performances that enthralled the audience. The event was ably compered by Pa Jankhogin Haokip, Pa Mangboi Lupheng, Nungah Jefani Changsan, and Gl Minlal Chongloi.
In his address, Chief Guest Pu Kaikhohao Doungel reminisced about earlier Chavang Kut celebrations among the Chin-Kuki-Mizo communities and emphasised the importance of “preserving cultural identity while embracing modernity and global changes.”
Guest of Honour Dr Bharati Dutta expressed her delight at witnessing the festivities, praising “the unity, vibrancy, and warmth reflected in the event.”
In his presidential address, Dr Lamkholal Doungel remarked, “Tradition and culture are not merely in the dress we wear, but in the spirit we nurture and impart to the younger generation.”
The festival concluded joyously with community feasting, traditional dances, and a renewed spirit of togetherness, reaffirming the Kuki community’s commitment to preserving their rich cultural heritage.
For a deeper understanding of the festival’s significance, readers can explore:
