The Kuki community of Upper Assam came together in a grand celebration of their cultural heritage as the 17th Upper Assam Chavang Kut festival was held with great enthusiasm at the Sahitya Sabha Hall in Dibrugarh on Saturday. The event, themed “Stronger Together: Honouring Our Past, Building Our Future,” witnessed a massive gathering of community members and well-wishers celebrating the traditional autumn harvest festival.
Chavang Kut, an important festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes observed primarily in Manipur and northeastern states on November 1, marks the thanksgiving for a successful harvest season. Derived from chavang (autumn) and kut (harvest), the festival is characterised by traditional dances, folk songs, community feasts, sports, and vibrant cultural performances.
The day’s proceedings were graced by Pu Kaikhohao Doungel, Superintendent of Central Goods & Service Tax and Customs, as Chief Guest, while Dr Bharati Dutta, retired Associate Professor of DHSK College and noted academician, was the Guest of Honour. Dr Lamkholal Doungel, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at DHSK College and Adviser of Kuki Inpi Assam, presided over the function. Pu Letkhokam Vaiphei performed the role of Kut Pa (Host).Following the ceremonial welcome of dignitaries and formal inauguration by the Kut Pa, Pu Sangboi Doungel, Chairman of the Kut Celebration Committee, delivered the welcome address. He called upon attendees to “celebrate the day in the true spirit of Kut—through rejoicing, dancing, and cherishing unity.”
The festival came alive with a spectacular array of traditional dances, folk melodies, and modern performances that kept the audience engaged throughout. Pa Jankhogin Haokip, Pa Mangboi Lupheng, Nungah Jefani Changsan, and Gl Minlal Chongloi skilfully anchored the proceedings.Chief Guest Pu Kaikhohao Doungel shared nostalgic memories of traditional Chavang Kut celebrations and stressed the need for “preserving cultural identity while embracing modernity and global changes.”
Dr Bharati Dutta, visibly impressed by the festivities, commended “the unity, vibrancy, and warmth reflected in the event.”
In his presidential remarks, Dr Lamkholal Doungel asserted, “Tradition and culture are not merely in the dress we wear, but in the spirit we nurture and impart to the younger generation.”
The celebration culminated in communal feasting, spirited traditional performances, and a collective reaffirmation of the Kuki community’s dedication to safeguarding their ancestral heritage for future generations.
For more insights into the cultural significance of Chavang Kut, visit: