Events & Festivals
in Chin State, Myanmar
Events & Festivals
Loknu Culture and Rhododendron Festival
January
Loknu Culture and Rhododendron Festival are celebrated annually to promote Chin tourism industry, to conserve the environment of Mount Khaw Nu M’cung (Mount Victoria), and to reveal the culture of Loknu land at Kanpetlet Township, Chin State in 2020. The festival will involve Loknu traditional dance entertainments, the unique exhibitions of Chin Culture, the conservation program of Mount Khaw Nu M’cung and Rhododendron and educated booths.
Chin National Day
February 20
Chin National Day is celebrated annually on February 20th both in different townships of Chin State and all over the world where Chin people reside. It is an auspicious day to promote and show the unity and solidarity of the Chin people. It is a tradition to celebrate Khuang Cawi and Chin wrestling on this day. Other events such as traditional exhibitions, local development exhibitions and traditional food display can be seen on this special day.
New Year Festival (Kup Ti Festival)
April 1
New Year festival is celebrated to be free from diseases and poverty with new mind and soul from everyone’s home. At midnight, water which is not touched and drunk by birds and other animals is fetched and put as New Year water. The water is sprayed the surrounding of the house in the early morning. In previous days, it was celebrated for 7 days from April 1-7 but it is celebrated only one day in these days. Rice bean, dried mython and rice are served for gathering meal and that is followed by dancing happily. The music of Bamboo flute with mouth was an essential for Kup Ti festival dancing.
Khuado Festival
Between October and the beginning of November
The most important sacrificial ceremony of “Khuado festival” is celebrated in Tedim township, the northern part of Chin State. It is a festival to celebrate successful harvesting, to banish evils for good harvests, good hunting, health and prosperity of the villagers, to have a tranquil life in the country, to strengthen the friendship and unity among the acquaintances, and to have family gathering every year, between October and the beginning of November, after the crops have been harvested.
Khuang Cawi Festival
The word “Khuang Cawi” derived from the Chin language. “Khuang” means “mound’ so the litter is built like a mound cabin structure in which the hostess would stand in majesty. The word “Cawi” means “holding aloft”. In fact, the word “Khuang Cawi” means “Holding aloft with a mound-structured litter”. Khuang Cawi is not such a wedding ceremony as it is a great honor to the beautiful wife or daughter in front of the guests, relatives and the public by any Chin nobleman. The Chins place an enormous degree of honor and esteem on Khuang Cawi festival so it is mainly celebrated on the Chin National Day.
Traditional Chin Wrestling
The husk of rice and millet were gathered on a flat ground to make a wrestling ring. One of the referees has to fire the gun in order to open the ring and to banish the evil gods from the ring. Women and dog are not allowed to pass the ring. When there is illness or disease in the designated area, the ring is opened by breaking eggs not by firing gun. There is a belief that there can be some injuries if women and dogs to enter the ring. Strong wrestlers with unique skills can be the victor by defeating more than 10 opponents. The victor of the traditional wrestling is honored not only in the wresting ring but also in everywhere. Chin people really appreciate such honor in their whole life.
Lung Yu Festival
Lung Yu festival is the Munn Chin tribe harvesting festival celebrated by the only person with the best fertility of crops. Relative from near and far are invited to join the festival. One to six mythons are used for the sacrifice. Those who come to the festival bring at least one pot of Chin traditional wine for the festival. Lung Yu festival was celebrated for 7 days in the previous years but only 3 days in these days. Additionally, taking memorial stones from the nearby rivers, sacrificing to gods, and honoring the host are significant parts of the festivals.
