Chin Communities Maintain Traditional Celebrations
23 October 2012: A series of traditional celebrations have been organized in their residing countries by Chin communities across the globe to mark the end of the harvest season in their culture.
The Chin harvest festival, which falls in the month of October with no designated date, was held in Burma, Australia, Malaysia and across Europe, with more celebrations to take place in North America and elsewhere in Asia next week.
With a variety of traditional dances, shows and performances in the programme, the event attracted more than 500 people in Melbourne, Australia, and about 800 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week.
One of the Chin refugees in Malaysia, who participated in the event, said they were proud to be able to celebrate the Chin traditional harvest celebration, adding: “This kind of traditional event reminds us of our uniqueness and Chin identity even though we are in a foreign land.”
In Hakha, the capital of Chin State, Burma, a celebration was held on a grand scale at the Carson Hall last Saturday, with Chief Minister of Chin State government Pu Hung Ngai and other ministers as well as government officials.
Rev. Shwekey Hoipang, a Christian pastor and leader from the Dai-Chin community in southern parts of Chin State, told Chinland Guardian: “The harvest festival is traditionally a significant celebration that unites the whole village as well as community in sharing what they have. It is even more important that we, the Chin Diasporas, maintain this traditional values in our residing countries as our cultural identity.”
Historically, the celebration was organized as a special occasion in a village when the farmers with their families returned home at the end of the harvest season after spending months on their fields.
The name of the festival varies in different Chin dialects such as Khuado in Tedim and Tonzang, Fanger in Falam, K’Thai Ei in Mindat and Kanpetlet, On Hu Saung Thar Ei Pwe in Asho, Taai Cha Nai in Paletwa, Cang Zom in Matupi, Khai Mdeh in Dai, Kut or Chavang Kut or Pawl Kut in Thado, Kuki and Mizo, Ku in Mara, and Tho in Hakha
Reporting by Thawng Zel Thang
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