Hmars in Mizoram perform during the celebration of Sikpui Ruoi on the outskirt of Aizawl on December 15.
Newmai News Network
Aizawl | December 17
In an epoch making event, the Hmar people in Mizoram on Friday celebrated ‘Sikpui Ruoi’, the greatest and most revered festival of the Hmars, with great enthusiasm and fanfare.
Thousands of people in Hmar traditional attire thronged Art & Culture Auditorium at Berawtlang on the outskirt of Aizawl to celebrate the prime festival organized by the Hmar Inpui, Mizoram region. The event was graced by Hmar Inpui President Joseph Lalrothang as Sikpui Pa or father or the festival.
The day long programme started with a thanksgiving programme, wherein a retired Presbyterian pastor Rev. Zualthuama administered an invocation and dedicated the festival to the glory of God.
Speaking on the occasion, Sikpui Pa Lalrothang expressed gratitude for Sikpui Ruoi being celebrated in Mizoram where many of the Hmar tribes have forgotten their rich culture and past history of the tribes.
“The celebration of Sikpui festival in Mizoram indeed is very great and decent as the current year is a good and productive year for the Hmars in Mizoram with peace talks between the state government and HPC(D) nearing to conclusion with positive solution,” he said. He also asked the Hmar people to be a channel of blessing and glorification for the Mizo nation.
The first session of the programme also witnessed costume parade in which children and models showcased Hmar traditional costumes. Various Hmar artistes and Lelte award winning choir Aizawl EFCI choir also performed on the occasion.
During the first session, three Hmar leaders namely LH Thanga, Dr. Siamhnuna and J. Laldinliana were honoured for their outstanding contribution towards the Hmar society.
The second session was marked with cultural and entertainment programme, in which various artists from the Hmar community enthralled the gathering with their traditional songs and Hmar cultural dances were performed by Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), Vairengte.
Sikpui festival is the most important festival of the Hmars celebrated mostly in winter. Also referred as harvest festival, it is not celebrated every year. In fact, it is celebrated only in the year of abundant harvest or good year when there is no death and chaos throughout the year. In Aizawl, Sikpui Ruoi was first celebrated in 1996.