The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 29: As the State Level Kut Committee is gearing up for one of the most important festivals of the KUKI ethnic groups – KUT, the KNO conveys its warm traditional greetings `Kut Chibai` to one and all.

According to a statement Lenin H. Kuki, secretary, information and publicity, Government of Jale` n- Gam, expressed their appreciation to the organizers 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.

It would be relevant on the occasion to state that, similar to the Jewish way of celebration, the Kuki people in the past had the tradition of celebrating seven Kut of different types viz. 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, it said.

It stated 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.

Further it held that today, in the name of globalization and modernization, indigenous cultures and values had been seriously threatened on the brink of extinction.

Therefore it is the bounden duty of each and every Kukis to preserve, promote and show our rich cultural heritage to the outside world.

At the same time, KNO expresses 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 is no other alternate means of survival as the government did not arrange any sustainable development option (s) to substitute jhum cultivation till date.

 

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