Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival 2024 at New Delhi
- 9th April, 2024 : Thadou Cultural Festival Organizing Committee -

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Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival 2024 at New Delhi

Office Of The Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival Organizing Committee (HFOC), 2024
(Governor of Manipur declared Hun as state holiday (restricted) vide order No. LIB-101/1/2022-GAD-GAD/A dated 8th December, 2023)
Motto: My Culture, My Identity
Celebration of sprouting of seeds sowed by the Thadou tribe of India

As scheduled, Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival, 2024 was successfully observed on April 7, 2024 at MP’s Club, North Avenue, New Delhi. The event was attended by the invited guests and Thadou people from around the world, both physically and through online.

The festival was observed with the theme “Solidarity and Brotherhood,” with special focus on Zo unity, distinct identity of Thadou tribe and tributes to innocent victims of Manipur violence. The Thadou Hun 2024 was in stark contrast to Hun of preceding years. It was more of a token observance, sans the cultural pomp and show, keeping in mind the prevailing situation in Manipur and the collective suffering of the community, especially Thadous, the most affected community.

The event was attended by Pu Lalhmachhuana, President, Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), Pu H. Lalthianghlima, President, Mizo Zirlai Pawl-GHQ and Pu Dr. Seiboi Singsit, Retd. IFS as Chief Guest, Functional President and Chief Host/Hun-Pa, respectively.

Following a prayer by Pu Dehminlen Thadou from Thadou Christian Fellowship, Delhi & NCR, Pu Nehkholal Thadou, Chairman, HFOC-2024, welcomed the dignitaries and all the attendees onsite as well as online. He highlighted the cultural importance and declaration of Thadou Hun as a Restricted Holiday by Govt. of Manipur in the State. Thadou anthem was sung, followed by felicitation of special invitees by giving them Thadou attires and mementos.

The event was dedicated by Rev. TS Thadou, Pastor, Thadou Christian Fellowship, Guwahati, with the reading of the Bible and pointed out that we now offer prayers to the Almighty Living God instead of spirits that were once worshipped by our ancestors. The Thadous can only sow the seeds, while it is for the Almighty to let the seeds germinate and bring forth good harvest.

He also stated that earlier, the forefathers offered their prayers to the local deities or spirits. But those practices are now left behind, and instead we seek God’s blessings for the seeds of unity, love, and care for each other. He also prayed for a good harvest and a good season. There was also a two-minute silence in tribute to all victims of Manipur violence and their loved ones.

Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival 2024 at New Delhi

Addressing the gathering, Pu Lalhmachhuana, the Chief Guest of the event, said that he attended the event in spite of his busy schedules to strengthen the unity and brotherhood between the Thadous and the Mizos, especially the CYMA. He also referred to the Thadou tribe as one of the most important tribe of the Zofate. In his concluding remarks, the Chief Guest expressed his wish that all the Thadou people should embrace Mizo and settle down peacefully, while emphasizing the need to stay united and overcome those forces that are against the collective Mizo identity.

Greeting on the occasion, president of the function said that Thadou language /dialect is one of the “Zofate” languages. We cannot be separated by geographical boundaries, while emphasising the emotional and cultural integration of Zofate. He expressed that Hun is an opportunity to bring unity amongst the brothers. He stressed that MZP is of the view that we are all one and are inseparable. It is an unfortunate truth that there is also infighting amongst the brethren, said Pu Lalthianghlima, as he stressed on the need for unity among the Zofate and offered MZP support for all in distress.

Chief Host/Hun-Pa, Pu Dr. Seiboi Singsit, Retd. IFS thanked the special invitees from Mizoram for warmly gracing the event and making it a grand success in celebrating brotherhood and warming the hearts of all Thadous. He wished that the observance of Hun 2024 may bring peace, harmony and tranquility to Manipur, while emphasising the need to celebrate or observe Thadou Hun every year to preserve and promote Thadou culture and identity, and encouraging all Thadous to steadfastly stand united at all times.

On the occasion, a releasing programme of Sinkhup 2.0, the souvenir booklet of Hun 2024, by Pu Lalhmachhuana, President, CYMA, was also held. The souvenir contains messages from several dignitaries, including Manipur Governor and Chief Minister, Mizoram Chief Minister and his political Adviser, Delhi Police Special Commissioner, several Mizo and Thadou organizations, etc. The souvenir also contains several articles, including, Distinct identity of Thadou Tribe as an Indigenous People of Manipur, India; Channeling the Thadou Hun Festival for sustainable development: Exploring Opportunities and Strategies; Yearning for peace, justice and non-violent Solutions—Refection on Manipur violence; and other Thadou-relevant articles and important documents.

The function ended with a mass prayer led by Rev. TS Thadou for all the victims of Manipur violence, the dead and survivors, and their loved ones, and for the Zo unity and return of peace in Manipur and solutions to the present problems.

Hun - Thadou Cultural Festival 2024 at New Delhi

The Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival Organizing Committee, 2024, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the dignitaries, our Mizo brothers, and members of the Thadou community all around the world for making the event a grand success. We are also indebted to our Mizoram brethren, who warmly and fully acknowledged the uniqueness of the Thadou tribe and reaffirmed the inseparability of Thadou from Mizo. The cloud of confusion was cleared in regards to the identification of the Thadou tribe from others.

The event was such a success in spite of the stiff opposition and serious threats served by several troublemaker Kuki organisations and leaders, including the Kuki Inpi, KSO, and the armed Kuki militant leader PS Haokip, president of KNO/KNA who all issued threatening statements against organizing the event and participants. PS Haokip, through a viral video clip, was speaking about their specific collaborative plans to stop or disrupt the Thadou Hun event at all costs, and he revealed that they had entrusted Kuki Inpi in Delhi to carry out the sabotage.

It is most unfortunate that at this critical juncture, these people incite and spread hatred, violence, and fear in the community, although they knew well that this year’s Thadou Hun was organised to be observed in a solemn and sombre manner with prayers for victims of violence and for the return of peace. But we urge all Thadous and Thadou lovers to bear with forgiving and loving hearts, for we overcome such evil with good, and justice and victory will be ultimately delivered.

With a spirit of brotherhood, the Thadous believe in mutual respect, non-violent, peaceful solutions, and justice, and with God’s strength and protection, the unstoppable Thadou tribe shall march forward, overcoming all challenges now and in the future. The HFOC, 2024 is optimistic that, with the blessings of the Almighty, it will be a mark for the dawning of a new chapter for the Thadous. May God heal our land and the people!

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(Thangminlun Haokip)
Secretary
Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival Organizing Committee (HFOC), 2024