Chavan Kumhrin celebrated with great fanfare
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, October 23 2012: The biggest post-harvest festival of Anal tribe, 'Chavan Kumhrin,' was celebrated at Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong here today along with a cultural extravaganza.

Since early period, the festival marks the end of harvesting season when village elders headed by chiefs and priests offer part of the harvested crops to their God and then eat the remaining, said Chandel MLA Nunghlung Victor, who was attending at the celebration.

He said the literal meaning of 'Chavan' is 'autumn' while 'Kumhrin' denotes 'New Year' .

The MLA also expressed happiness to witness the mammoth gathering at the function marking the Chavan Kumhrin celebration and offered prayer to the God for yet another bountiful harvest in coming year.

Ex-MP BD Behring, who also participated in the celebration, recalled that Chavan Kumhrin was first organized at Modi village in Chandel district at district level and since then the festival is being celebrated on October 23 every year after the Manipur Government recognized it as a festival of the Anal tribe with a district holiday of Chandel.

The celebration was inaugurated with Chavan Kumhrin Thanksgiving Gospel Service and it was followed by a glittering cultural programme.

As part of the festival, a fashion parade was held where several Anal students took part.

Children and elders from Baptist Church, Imphal also staged a drama based on harvesting.

Anal folk songs and cultural dances were later presented apart from offering prayers and then partaking together in a grand feast.

This festival has not only attained popularity but also brings unity for the tribe, said Anal Taangpi Valing.

It also promotes the tribe's cultural heritage in a healthy manner.

The Chavan Kumhrin festival which was initiated by the Anal tribe at the beginning, has become a common festival for all the tribes inhabiting Chandel district today.

The celebration has also been Christianised.

The Anal tribe is one of the oldest tribes of Manipur.

They occupy the Chakpi River basin and its adjoining areas upto Indo-Myanmar border in Chandel district of Manipur.

The Anals are also found dwelling mostly in Sagaing Sub-division of the neighbouring Myanmar.

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