Kut - a post harvest festival of Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of people, was celebrated all over the State on November 1 last. The festival was being celebrated in all the districts of Manipur while the grand state level Kut festival was held at the 1st Manipur Rifles ground with a colorful cultural extravaganza and the most-wanted Miss Kut beauty pageant.

Kut is a festival where the Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes offer prayer after the harvest. Ministry of Tourism, Government of India had already recognized the festival as tourism festival of India. State level festival is being celebrated under the financial assistance from the ministry and State Government. Of late, the festival has broken all ethnic and religious barriers and become one of the most popular festivals of Manipur.

Veteran social worker and politician Paoneikhai Suantak (81) was chosen the “kut pa” (master of the ceremony) for the state level festival. Despite his old age, Suantak came here to meet the young people. He told the crowd, which was mostly comprised of young people, that the need of the hour was peaceful co-existence of all communities.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh opened the festival and was attended by other ministerial colleagues. Cultural troupes belonging to different communities from various corner of the State staged cultural items.

The main attraction of the state level Kut festival at 1st MR was the 'Miss Kut' beauty pageant. Fashion parade and beauty contests which are held as part of the festival has become extremely popular over the years. In fact, Miss Kut has become the medium of popularizing the festival. Altogether 20 young beauties belonging to different communities vied for the prestigious Miss Kut 2002 title. The beauty pageant was held in the evening which was witnessed by hundreds of audience mostly youngsters.

There were three rounds in the contest namely traditional, casual and question-answer rounds. Inter-round break was filled with different musical bands presenting their numbers to entertain the crowd. As the venue of the festival is a high security zone, police personnel and commandos could easily control the crowd. There was not much unruly audience there.

Ten beauties were singled out for the question-answer round (final round). Each contestant was allowed to choose a judge by picking the name from a box.

Based on proficiency of their replies, Chinminchong (Boinu) Haokip was declared Miss Kut 2002 while Miss Uttambal Devi Ningthoujam was adjudged first runners-up. Miss Themboi Kipgen was adjudged the second runner-up.

Miss Chinminchong (vital statistics: 34”-27”-34”) a resident of Langol Spring Villa, Lamphelpat during the question-answer round said that she is most inspired by the life of Florence Nightingale. Nightingale’s dedication towards the cause of the ailing soldiers is an inspiration to her, Chinminchong said. Miss Kut 2000, Santoshini Devi, crowned the title to Miss Chinminchong. With the title, she pocketed a cash prize of Rs 25,000. A sum of Rs 15,000 and 10,000 were awarded to the first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.

A cash prize of Rs 1000 each were awarded to the winners of various subtitles. Winners are: Nengthem (Best Hair), Khamnehoi Kol (Photogenic), Indubala Devi Sagolshem (Radiant Skin, Perfect Ten), Uttambala Devi Ningthoujam (Lovely Smile).