Source: Hueiyen News Service
Ccpur, October 30 2009:
Kuki National Organisation (KNO) has extended 'traditional' KUT greetings/Chibai to one and all as the State Level Kut Committee is gearing up for one of the most important festivals of the KUKI ethnic groups - KUT.
A greeting message issued by the publicity of KNO, H Lenin Kuki appreciated the organisers and Kutters at local levels in different parts of the state despite financial hardships, and also those far beyond in the United States, United Kingdom and other cities in India.
Noting that the Kuki people in the past had, similar to the Jewish way of celebration, the tradition of celebrating seven Kut of differenttypes including Slashing and drying of Trees (Chapphou Kut), Seed-sowing Kut, Slaying of white- chicken (Hun Kut ), the Kut of Unleavened Bread, Kut of the first fruits, Kut of reaping paddy and barley ( Mim Kut ) and Autumn or Chavang Kut, the KNO pointed out that Kut, indeed is an occasion of thanksgivings and gala event in honour of the PROVIDER of an abundant harvest.
"It is a joyous moment for food-stock laden villagers to make merry under the autumnal moonlit night with the cool breeze across the Hills.
It truly is an event signifying the victory over 'poverty' and 'hunger'.
Hence the joyous yelling of Li�Li�Li�Li� Ha�Ha�Ha�Ha�by Kuki forefathers has become a traditional part and parcel of Kut celebration as they dreaded hunger and famine," it noted.
Today, in the name of globalization and modernization, indigenous cultures and values have been seriously threatened and were put in peril.
Therefore it is the bounden duty of each and every Kukis to preserve, promote and show our rich cultural heritage to the outside world, the KNO called upon.
At the same time, KNO expressed serious concerns over the uncontrolled deforestation in the Hills, which directly affect the inhabitants and the environment.
With the increasing population and global financial crisis, the poor village-folks could not depend on Jhuming alone for their survival.
Despite the serious consequences of deforestation arising out of jhum cultivation, there are no other alternate means of survival, as the government did not arrange any sustainable development option to substitute jhum cultivation till date, it observed.