4th Sizo festival celebrated
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
Churachandpur, September 28 2021:
The fourth edition of Sizo (Eurya acuminata) Festival was held at Saikot SDO/BDO office campus on Tuesday.
The event organised by Hmar Youth Association (HYA), Saikot branch, was attended by GS Haupu, MLA and chairman MANIREDA & MTDC, as chief guest and Laltankim Serto, DFO Churachandpur, as functional president while Khaipao Haokip, caretaker chairman ADC Churachandpur, was present as guest of honour and Saikot village chief James Cole host of the festival.
Sizo festival has been celebrated since 2018 by the Hmar people.
Porridge prepared from Sizo leaves is a traditional and favourite food of the Hmar community.
To protect and preserve the Sizo plant, the festival is being celebrated since 2018, according to Donald L Hmar, chairman of Sizo Festival Organising Committee.
He further said that the other objective for organising the festival is to promote the Sizo curry cooked with variegated meat and other vegetables among other communities as well.
Sizo dishes are cooked by Hmar people with a combination of beef intestines, Sizo with yam-fermented soya bean, dried meat of different kinds, dried vegetables and as chutney.
In most of the community feasts during Christmas, New Year, marriage and other occasions, Sizo is a common ingredient for special dishes.
Sizo Hmepawk /porridge with beef intestines, etc., are items one cannot do without on such occasions.
Sizo leaves cooked in 15 different ways were also demonstrated to the public and tasted by the dignitaries during the festival.