Christmas brings cheer to Mizoram

The spirit of yuletide in Christian-dominated Mizoram was ushered in from Christmas eve with midnight mass and carol singing and churches and homes decked out with twinkling lights and flowers.

'Krismas lenkhawm' or Christmas songs composed by Mizo composers like Rokunga, Patea, Damhauhva and others and carols in English were sung by guitar strumming carol parties going from house to house to a warm welcome last night.

In the capital, Aizawl, street corners and road intersections have colourful decorations with cribs depicting the birth of Christ, while snowmen, life-size Santa Claus dolls reindeer and even sleighs were on sale.

Church services and ‘Krismas Lenkhawm’ will continue till tomorrow.

A majority of localities and villages will organise community feasts on December 27 as tomorrow is a Sunday.

The old practice of eating boiled rice, meat and vegetables from wild plantain leaves is still practised in some villages during the feasts.

Donations were collected by churches and NGOs for Christmas celebrations for those in hospitals, orphanages, homes for the mentally challenged, AIDS patients and for jail inmates.

The state government has already announced that Monday will be a public holiday in its offices, banks and educational institutions.

The Christmas celebrations will continue till New Year and community feasts will again be organised on January 1.