ANTHURIUM FESTIVAL-2013

ANTHURIUM FESTIVAL 2013 AT TOURIST RESORT REIEK ON SEPTEMBER:- About 30 kms to the West ,about an hour’s drive from Aizawl sprawls a prominent mountain on which Reiek village is located. This is one destination that one should not miss visiting. The mountain itself, though appearing to be of gentle slopes on its eastern side , has spectacular rocky cliffs notched with caves and caverns in an environment of luxuriant natural forest preserved since the days of the Mizo chiefs. It is here that the colorful Festival , Anthurium Festival is celebrated in the state. It is a successful tourism promotion venture celebrated every year at the tourist resort in Reiek Village at the foothills of the mystic Reiek Mountain in September, every year as festival, amidst, nature during the peak season of the beautiful and exotic Anthurium blossom. It is a three days extravaganza that showcase various culture and traditional activities. Other attractions include music, dance, traditional games and sports, handloom, handicrafts and a re-invention of a Mizo typical Village. The festival also includes archery, rifle shooting, and angling competitions. Cultural display of traditional attires of different tribes are also a regular feature of the festival . The festival is indeed an experience not to be missed. The enchanting and mystic Reiek Mountain is surrounded by thick lush green temperate trees and bushes that echoes with legends, folk lore’s and feats won by Mizo chief , for whom Rei-ek Mountain was a hunting preserve. Against the backdrop of this picture perfect isle of nature preserved as gifted by mother nature, the most popular festival of Mizoram. The spontaneity and spirit of celebration that the festival evoke rejuvenates the mind and the body, so, take the opportunity to get away from the stress and monotony of your daily chores. MIZORAM, Hidden Gem of The North East India Well Comes YOU to witness the amazing culture and tradition of the Mizos, the Anthurium Festival is a must attend.

THALFAVANG KUT - a farming festival

Thalfavang Kut festival is considered as one of the most significant festivals in Mizoram. Completion of weeding of the crop fields to make them suitable for harvesting activities is a primary farming operation of the cultivators of Mizoram. Thalfavang Kut is celebrated at a time when this weeding of the farm lands in Mizoram is completed by the cultivators. Since cultivation is the prime source of socio-economic survival of the people of Mizoram hence most of the festivals are associated with some or other harvesting processes. Thalfavang Kut is one such occasion when the local inhabitants of Mizoram are involved in a wide array of festive activities. The tribal groups living in all corners of Mizoram participate in various cultural events that are organized during the Thalfavang Kut festival. With vibrant shades of dance costumes the local people of Mizoram present an awe-inspiring range of performances to celebrate Thalfavang Kut. The entire region of Mizoram becomes a vibrant platform of enjoyment and enthusiasm when Thalfavang Kut is celebrated in the place. With sumptuous feasts the Mizoram people engross completely in the festive spirit of Thalfavang Kut. Another interesting trait of the festival of Thalfavang Kut is that it provides a scope to the tribal communities living in the far flung corners of Mizoram to represent their inherent cultural characteristics. Otherwise inhabiting remotely approachable places, the different tribes and sub-tribes of Mizoram get a pulsating base during the Thalfavang Kut festival where their talents are viewed by other people. In a way, Thalfavang Kut is not only a festival but also an opportunity to showcase the hidden cultural traits of the tribes of Mizoram.

CHAPCHAR KUT - a spring festival

At the end of February, when winter starts receding, the Mizos prepare the land for fresh planting. There are few days of relaxation before the serious business of sowing starts and that is when the Chapchar Kut festival is celebrated with gaiety and fervour. A spring festival, this is the most important festival and the only one regularly observed during the first week of March in Mizoram. On this day people of all ages, young and old, men and women dressed in their colorful costumes and distinctive head gears and jewelries, assemble and perform various folk dances, singing traditional songs accompanied by beating of drums, gongs and cymbals. They dance in joyous celebration of life, each team displaying the best of its region. These are generally group dances with a lot of bonhomie and courting woven into them. Some dances are strictly martial danced by strong virile warriors with their weapons and trophies. One dance perennially popular is the Cheraw or the "bamboo dance" so called as long bamboo staves are used for this dance. This is the most colourful and distinctive dance of the Mizos requiring skill and an alert mind to perform. The other main dances performed during Chapchar Kut are Khuallam, Chheihlam, Chai and Sarlamkai. "Khual lam" is an auspicious dance performed by a group of dancers celebrating new beginnings. It is also a welcome dance for guests during community festivities. To attain a position of distinction, a Mizo had to go through a series of ceremonies and perform many feats of heroic deeds. These ceremonies are always accompanied by a feast and to this feast, friends from nearby villages are invited - hence, Khuallam is the dance for the visitors or guests. The "Chheih lam" is another community dance performed by both men and women. The war dance "Solakia", a prerogative of the male population of the community, is accompanied by rhythmic beating of the drums Exhibition and sale of indigenous Handloom and Handicraft products and other tourist attractions like flower show, food festival, musical competition and different traditional games are also organized during the Chapchar Kut festival

Social Life of the Mizos......one must understand this to fully enjoy a visit to Mizoram..!!

The Mizos are a gregarious, simple, carefree and peace-loving people. Since the days of the chieftains they have always been a close-knit society with moral values based on Tlawmngaihna, or essentially, selfless service for others, a rare principle which goes well with Christianity. There is practically no status or class distinction amongst the member of the Mizo society, enabling even a fourth-grade emplyee of the government to chair a social gathering or a church service attended by officers of high ranks, the privilege being accorded to any active volunteer or worker. Moreover, the local communities, now largely represented by the Young Mizo Association, voluntarily assume the resposibility of helping the needy and the poor. The Mizos are proud to say that hardly any beggar is to be found in the streets. Endowed with a rich and colourful culture, the Mizos are passionately drawn to dance and songs. They have a rich repertoire of community dances and songs reflecting their mirthful nature which has been handed down for generations. In fact, the Mizos are a singing community and still prolific with new songs and Christian hyms to this day. Festivals, weddings, death of a person and calamity are occassions involving the whole village community.

Accomodations - tourist lodges with contact numbers

TOURIST LODGES : 1. Tourist Lodge Chaltlang 2346589 (O) 2341083/2349421/2346422(F) 2. Tourist Home Luangmual 9612160177/2332263 3. Tourist Complex Berawtlang 9436155187/2352067 4. Highway Restaurant Thingdawl 9862719019/03837-268526 5. Tourist Lodge Kolasib 9436145916/03837-220067 6. Tourist Lodge Vairengte 9612660112/03837-261606 7. Tourist Lodge Champhai 9436143518/03831-235866 8. Tourist Lodge Lunglei 9436157014/0372-2342013 9. Tourist Lodge Saiha 9436149031/03835-222591 10. Tourist Lodge Bairabi 9436780421/9862733398 11. Tourist Lodge Saitual 9862775342/2562395 12. Tourist Lodge Sangau 8014354604/0372-2553110 13. Highway Restaurant Hnahthial 9436147957/9862804139 14. Tourist Lodge Lawngtlai 9436148665/03835-233239 15. Tourist Lodge Thenzawl 9612065527/03838-261489 16. Tourist Resort Lengpui 9862202975/9336155467/2573391 17. Highway Restaurant Chhiahtlang 9436379544/03838-225059 18. Tourist Lodge Mamit 9436192771/2565600 29. Tourist Resort Reiek 9436144947/2567344 20. Tourist Lodge Khawbung 9863292441/9436786548/9612133483 21. Tourist Lodge Ngopa 03830-261220 22. Tourist Lodge Pangzawl 9862742423 23. Tourist Lodge Tlabung 9436760290/03834-222352 24. Tourist Resort Hmuifang 9436360574/9862842494 25. Tourist Lodge Kanhmun 8014004751/9612945064 26. Tourist Lodge Saichho 0372-2566155/9402187388 27. Tourist Lodge Sakawrdai 9436144335/8974419960 28. Tourist Lodge Zokhawthar 9402321100/03831-291292/9402327592 29. Tourist Lodge N.Maubawk 9863436320/9612216753 30. Tourist Lodge Saipum 9856652428/9774514927 31. Picnic Spot Sairang 9436784010 32. Tourist Lodge Darzo 9436779317 33. Tourist Lodge Hrangchalkawn 9612328158/9615311814 34. Tourist Lodge Chawngte 9612656708/9612356708/9863701861 35. Highway Restaurant Tawipui ‘S’ 9862344162 36. Tourist Lodge W.Phaileng 8014948700 37. Tourist Lodge Lungdar 9863474468/9863524359 38. Viewing Gallery Tlangnuam 9862898290 39. Tourist Lodge N.Vanlaiphai 9863222270

Getting to Mizoram

By Road: National Highway 54 connects Aizawl with the rest of the country through Silchar. The bus journey from Silchar to Aizawl usually takes about 6 hours. Mizoram State Transport Buses runs two inter-state bus services, one to Shillong in Meghalaya and another to Guwahati in Assam. A number of private bus services and sumo services are also available from Guwahati, Shillong and Silchar. Sumo services are also available from Aizawl to border towns of Tripura and Manipur. Road Distances from Aizawl : Guwahati - 523 kms Silchar - 180 kms Shillong - 420 kms Imphal - 374 kms Kohima - 479 kms Agartala - 443 kms By Train: Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram is 180 kms from Silchar in Assam, which is the nearest railhead. Mizoram State transport buses ply between Aizawl and Silchar daily. By Air: Mizoram's Lengpui Airport is connected by daily flights from Kolkata and Guwahati by Air India and Jet Airways. Lengpui Airport is 35 kms away from Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. The road travel between Lengpui airport and Aizawl takes about an hour. A number of taxi services are available from lengpui airport to aizawl. Enquiries at Lengpui Airport : Air India : 0389-2573355, Jet Airways :0389-2573277.

Entry formalities for foreign tourists

All foreign nationals have to register themselves at the office of Superintendent of Police (CID/SB) Mizoram who is the designated Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the State within 24 hours of arrival. Citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan and foreign nationals having their origin in these countries would continue to require prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs before entering the state. Resident Commissioner Government of Mizoram Mizoram House Lt. Ribhu Saxena Marg, Vasant Vihar New Delhi – 110057 Phone : 011- 26145360, 26145401, 26145405 Fax No : 26153564, 26152896 Email : zoram[at]indiatimes[dot]com Shillong » Liaison Officer Government of Mizoram Nongrim Hills, Shillong Ph : +91 364-2230149(O) 2225058(R) Mizoram House Cleve Colony, Tripura Castle Road Shillong - 793 003 Ph : +91 364-225068 Silchar » Liaison Officer Mizoram Run Sonai Road Silchar -788 005 Phone : 03842- 225622, 225655 Fax No: 03842- 226166 Calcutta » Liaison Officer Government of Mizoram Mizoram House 24, Old Ballygunge Road, Calcutta, 700 019 Phone : 033- 4756430, 4757887, 4757064 Fax No: 033- 4757034 Mizoram House Block IB, Plot No. 168 Sector 3, Salt Lake Calcutta 700 091 Phone : 033- 3343209, 3354144 PABX : 033- 3370917, 3354165 Guwahati » Liaison Officer MIZORAM HOUSE Christian Basti. G.S.Road Guwahati - 781 005 Ph: 0361- 2529 448 (L.O Office & Res) Phone : 0361- 2529411, 2529622 Fax No: 0361- 2529448 Mizoram House Zoo Road Guwahati - 781005 Phone : 0361- 2457924