Glamour, music, festivities mark Kut '10
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2010: The biggest post-harvest festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo group of people, Kut, 2010 was celebrated along with a cultural extravaganza at the parade ground of Ist Manipur Rifles here today.

Thanksgiving to Almighty God for bountiful harvest, presentation of cultural dances, folk songs, and Miss Kut contest were among the main highlights of the celebration.

Organised under the aegis of State Level Kut Committee (SLKC), Manipur, the celebration was attended by Governor Gurbachan Jagat as chief guest in the morning session.

Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing, Tribal Development Minister DD Thaisii, Information Minister TN Haokip, Union Planning Commissioner member BK Chaturdevi, etc were also present at the occasion.

Miss Kut Divya Chingtham (C) 1st runner up Kim Gangten Haokip (L) and Kh Brojeshori (R)

Speaking as chief guest, Governor Gurbachan Jagat observed that Kut celebration occupies a unique position not only in the life of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of the State but also in the lifes of all the people as it carries the message of peace, harmony and progress.

The Governor hoped that celebration of Kut will certainly help in preserving and promoting the collective identity of the KukiChin-Mizo brethren and at the time it will speed up the process of spreading the message of peace, communal harmony, friendship and brotherhood amongst various communities living in the North East in general and in Manipur in particular, doing away with the variance of caste, creed, community and religions.

Pointing out that culture is related to styles of life, language, the thoughts and bonds of the people and it is this style and pattern of life which brings the different religious groups of people to have a common bond and unity, the Governor exhorted that it is our bounden duty to ensure mutual understanding and trust among ourselves and also ensure that our children progress along the track of development.

The Governor, however, expressed unhappiness over the facts that the age-old glorious tradition of peaceful co-existence among various communities seems to be disturbed due to ethnic conflict and self-centred politics of different communities.

It is quite unfortunate, he added.

The Governor also released a souvenir to mark the occasion.

In his address, MP Rishang Keishing categorically stated that we should stop saying that the Government of India has adopted a discriminating stand.

If the fund being released by the Government of India for developmental activities had been utilised properly, we would not have said such things, he said.

Rishang further observed that for communal harmony and peace to prevail in Manipur, there is the need for people of all communities to participate jointly in the festivities of each other.

The afternoon session of the celebration was attended by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh as chief guest.

Crowing of Miss Kut, 2010 was the main attraction of the afternoon session.