Celebrated after the harvest season, Mim Kut is a religious festival that honours the beliefs of the people and is observed with great fanfare. It is majorly observed by the Kuki tribe of Nagaland in the months of August and September. One of the primary reasons to celebrate this festival by the Kuki tribe is to express their victorious glory over the successful harvest of Maize which is also considered as the last of the harvest crops of the season.
The Kuki people believe that during this time of the year, the souls of the departed rise from their graves to get in touch with their long lost relatives and loved ones. And to them, the locals offer tribute in the form of wine that is prepared from rice. Apart from wine, other ritual offerings include fresh vegetables and even handmade symbolic jewellery. On this festival, people sing with dripping joy, and dance as well, showcasing the grandeur of their culture.
Although this festival calls for a grand celebration, Mim Kut 2021 might not be observed on such large scale, courtesy COVID-19 pandemic.
History of Mim Kut Festival
The origin of this festival is based on the story of two brothers named Kuki and Chin. This is essentially a story about the undying love and affection which a bond of blood can display. It is believed that in the past, both of them were abandoned by their mother. And once upon a time, during their days of isolation and emotional vulnerability, Kuki felt very hungry. So, Chin gave a piece of Mim (a dish) to Kuki to quench his hunger helping his brother in his time of need. And it is to pay tribute to this love of theirs, and also to thank the God, the people of Mizoram celebrate the Mim Kut Festival.
Major Attractions of Mim Kut Festival Mizoram
1. Rituals. In this festival, the individuals essentially pay tribute to their deceased ancestors. It is believed that they offer maize, clothes, jewellery and bread to the departed souls of their loved ones.
2. Traditional Dance. The locals also participate in traditional dance which is performed in groups of two and in bigger groups as well. In the background, soothing music is played with big drums, longhorns, and other local instruments. Watching the participants, who are dressed in special attire, dancing in precise coordination is truly an unforgettable experience.
3. Contests and Games. Apart from dancing and merrymaking, one can also participate in delightful contests, games, fashion shows, talent and even voice hunts. If these don’t delight you enough, then you can always relish in the delicious delicacies.
How to Reach
Aizawl is the largest city of Mizoram and is considered as one of the most beautiful cities too. It is situated at a distance of 2,371, 3,198, 1,477, 1,582 km from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively. So, if you want to experience Mim Kut then this is how you can reach here via the following means of transportation.
By Air. The best option to reach here via airways would be Lengpui Airport (AJL) which supports a 2,500-metre runway and is one among the three airports that feature a tabletop runway. It also has a Cat-I Instrument Landing System which helps the planes in landing with complete security and even in low visibility conditions. After deboarding your flight, you will need to cover the remaining distance via public transport.
Here is how you can reach here.
- Delhi - Board Air India, Vistara, SpiceJet flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport. The airfares start from Rs.5,000
- Patna - Board SpiceJet, IndiGo, Go Air flights from Patna Airport. The airfares start from Rs.4,000
- Ranchi - Board IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara flights from Ranchi Airport. The airfares start from Rs.7,000-Rs.8,000
- Jaipur - Board Air India, Go Air, IndiGo flights from Jaipur Airport. The airfares start from Rs.5,000
By Train. The nearest railway station is the Manu Bazar Railway Station. This particular train station lies under the Lumding railway division of the North-East Frontier Railway. Apart from Manu Bazar Railway Station, Pencharthal is another option to travel here. However, these train stations don’t have good connectivity, hence, it is recommended for you to travel to Silchar Railway Station. After you deboard at the station, take public transport to cover the remaining distance.
- Delhi - Board NDLS SCL PSK EXP from New Delhi Railway Station and deboard at the Silchar Railway Station
- Kolkata - Board Aronai Express from Santragachi Jn and deboard at the Silchar Railway Station
- Agartala - Board AGTL SCL PASS from Agartala Junction and deboard at the Silchar Railway Station
By Road. The overall road connectivity to Aizawl is fairly good. Depending upon your location, you can choose to travel by bus, cab or even your own vehicle. Here is how you can reach Aizwal by the following routes.
- Guwahati - 469 km via NH6 or NH27
- Imphal - 399 km via NH37
- Silchar - 170 km via NH6
- Haflong - 270 km via NH27 or NH6
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
