IMPHAL, October 26: Kut Festival a premiere festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of Manipur which is also known as “Chavang Kut” will be celebrated at 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground on November 1 organised by State Level Kut Committee.
This was stated by spokesperson and media in-charge Chunglenmang Kipgen at a press briefing held at 1st MR banquette hall today.
He said there will be two sessions. The morning session will start from 10am and the evening session will starts on 5 pm.
For the morning session Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam will be the chief guest and will be marked by various cultural programmes. He added that every year 22 Kuki tribes showcased their customs but for this year only 11 Kuki tribes will be performing and the remaining 11 Kuki tribes will perform in 2015 Kut Festival.
The evening session will be commence from 5pm and Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh will be the chief guest. This will be followed by a beauty contest amongst 22 participants, he stated.
He further said that there will be awards of Rs 55,000, Rs 45,000 and Rs 35,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position winners respectively for the cultural performers and for the beauty contest awards of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
To enter the Kut festival there will be three entrances and exit gates. VIPs will enter through 1st MR main gate near Kalimai, for the general public through BSNL Bhawan gate and for the invitees through 1st MR second gate jail road.
In-order to prevent unwanted incidents, strict security has been arranged, moreover, 100 meira paibis of Langol Game Village have been detailed for the security measures and to control various kinds of intoxications.
Kut Festival is an autumn festival and marks the ending if the harvest season. It is also a thanksgiving function and prayers are offered for a bountiful harvest and prosperity of the people.
A display and performance of rich cultural traditions and merrymaking form a vital part of the Kut celebrations. One of the main highlights of the Kut Festival is the Miss Kut, a beauty pageant, organized every year during this festival at the 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles parade ground.
Kut festival is of great significance as it highlights the cultural heritage of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups and also a platform to harness peace and harmony among the diverse ethnic communities of the state.