By Moe Kyaw – Chin National Day will be commemorated this year in Aizawl, in India’s Mizoram State, for the first time in a decade.
The 71st celebrations of the day will be held on February 20 for the first time since 2009, and are being organized by the Chin Pawlpi group.
“We are resuming the Chin National Day celebration because there are many ethnic Chin people living in Mizoram state. We felt so upset because we couldn’t hold our national day celebrations for many years,” Salai Huliana, secretary of Chin Pawlpi, told Khonumthung News. “From now on, we hope that we will be able to hold the celebration every year,” he said.
Salai Huliana said that special guests had been invited to the event, including Pu Zoram Thanga—the chief minister of Mizoram state—and Pu No Than Kup, a former Chin affairs minister in Sagaing, and Salai Issac Khin, a former electricity and municipal minister in Chin State. Invitations have also been extended to the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) chairperson and other important figures in the Chin community based in India.
A sports competition will take place on February 19 in the lead-up to the celebration, which will be held at Vanapa Hall on the evening of the following day. Students from Kalay University’s Falam Phunsang Tlawng dance group in Sagaing will perform at the national day event.
Chin singers from Burma and India such as JH Thang, Mai Ma Khin, G. Lalsangliana, Baby Z. Tlau, Angaihtei, and Ma Biaki will also perform.
February 20 is also Mizoram State Day in India.