Mizoram, Dec 24: After celebrating Christmas and New Year behind closed doors in 2020 due to the spread of Coronavirus, Mizoram, a hilly state of Northeast India predominantly inhabited by the Christians, this time is preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus and New Year in churches.
Preparations are gaining full momentum in all parts of the state with churches making arrangements and chalking out the programme for the holy celebration.
Reasons why people of Mizoram are so excited for this festive season
• People had to celebrate Christmas 2019 and New Year closed due to the spread of Coronavirus Pandemic
• Christmas trees and wreaths adorned almost every household
• Several NGOs, political parties, churches, and groups have been mustering charity to reach out to the orphanages, jails, corrective homes, rehabs, and hospitals with generous gifts
• Mizoram will witness 150 years of Christmas being celebrated on its soil after it was first celebrated by the invading colonial British troops
• Historians recorded that the first Christmas in Mizoram soil was celebrated in 1871, not by the Mizos but by the invading colonial British troops near Tuivai river on the present Mizoram-Manipur border and the Mizo warriors attacked the soldiers during celebrations.
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What are restrictions and relaxations have been issued by the government due to pandemic?
• Churches and other places of worship in COVID-19 free towns and villages outside the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) area have been re-opened since August 22
• the State government also allowed the re-opening of churches in COVID-19 affected areas, including the state capital Aizawl, which was worst affected, from October 2
• This year all churches across the state are expected to hold worship services in their respective local churches, unlike last year, when Christmas and New Year were celebrated behind closed doors due to the spread of COVID-19.
• However, the celebrations will be in a low-key manner in the state capital and other district headquarters as compared to the past
• Congregational singing and community feast, which form an integral part of the celebrations, are restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The existing COVID-19 guidelines, which will remain in force till 15 January 2022, prohibited congregational singing in public places or churches and community feasts.
• The government has banned firecrackers, sky lanterns, and other pyrotechnic materials, including toy guns, which have bullets, during the festive season.
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Mizoram which celebrated the centenary of the arrival of Christianity back in 1994, Christmas is a blend of religious and traditional fervour. Notwithstanding an English way of celebration, the proselytized Mizos follow their way of celebrating Christmas in tune with their historic traditions.
Singing Christmas songs and hymns by congregation and community feasts, which is an important tradition of the Mizos during festivities since the pre-Christian era, are an integral part of the celebration.
Customarily, the Christmas celebration is followed for three days starting from 24 of December known as ‘urlawk zan’ or pre-night celebration to 26 of December.
While 25 December is usually sanctified for worship during which church services, sermon and ‘zaikhawm’ (congregational singing service) are held to mark the prime celebration, 26 December is generally marked with traditional community feasts.
