Chapchar Kut

The Chapchar Kut is a festival of a place which is known as “land of the hill people” yes, It is none other than Mizoram. Chapchar Kut is celebrated on the second Friday of March.

Chapchar Kut literally means – a festival held during the period when the bamboos and trees that have been cut down are being awaited to dry to be burnt for next crop to be grown known as jhumming. During this brief layoff period of jhumming, the Mizo ancestors could have all the time for themselves. They spend their leisure time in hunting games, fishing, et al. The Chapchar Kut festival evolved sometime between 1450 -1600 A.D. when the Mizo forefathers inhabit Lentlang.

On this day the Cheraw or bamboo dance is performed by young boys and girls in the big grounds for their mesmerising performance. The boys across the performance ground clap bamboos with a synchronized beat, while the girls step within the bamboo patterns created by the boys. The footwork steps change from time to time along with the beat and the girls have to be careful not to get hurt.

Their head dress is called the Vakiria. The band that holds it to the head is woven in different patterns and feathers are attached to it.  A stick is fixed at the back – parallel to the shoulder line and has strings of ‘pingpih’ beads and metal tassels attached. These make a pretty tinkling sound when the girls sway their heads.

It is apparent that there is no cultural, religious or nationality barrier among the waves of sea of people dancing. But then, where else in India, if not in the world, would you chance upon such  hospitable people, other than in Mizoram.