Chin Communities Preparing to Celebrate their National Day
14 February 2011: Chin people all over the world are making preparations to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of their national day, commemorating the 1948 Falam conference where the 5000-strong people voted for the democratic system of governing over the traditional aristocratic administration.
The celebrations of Chin National Day, which falls on 20 February, are organised by Chin communities from different cities and towns across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific regions, with the exception of Burma in which permission to hold the national day still remains uncertain although preparations are reported underway as the military authorities force an observance of ‘Chin State Day’ instead.
Chin refugees in the Nu Po Refugee Camp on the Thai-Burma border are to hold their celebration this weekend, with kind contributions from Chin Youth Organisation (CYO) in the US, friends in the Uk and Norway.
In Malaysia, Chin refugee communities will start their celebrations this Friday on 18 February by organising a series of events and sports including football, Chin traditional wrestling contest and a variety of shows in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. Refugee children of Chin Student Organisation (CSO) are also set to perform traditional dances on the auspicious day of February 20th.
Burma’s popular Chin singers, Chaw Su Khin and Sanpi are invited to perform in the Chin National Day celebration in Frankfurt where the Chin community is preparing the ground for a bigger audience expected from Burmese communities based in Germany.
A troupe of Burmese celebrities such as Su Pan Twa, Khin Lay Nwe and Khin Zar Chi Kyaw is also rumoured to be attending the celebration in Germany during their filming breaks in Switzerland. A series of celebrations are also to take place in other cities across Europe including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and the UK.
Other grand celebrations will take place in the US cities, with Chin traditional wrestling contest being believed to be one of the most exciting events while other attracting programmes include traditional dances, fashion shows in Chin dresses, beauty and singing contests, and concerts.
There will also be a chain of Chin National Day celebrations in Asia-Pacific countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The usual celebration of Chin National Day lasts one whole day where a formal opening ceremony is first held with speeches given by leaders and key guest speakers, then followed by sharing traditional foods and other activities.
Van Biak Thang
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