CHIN FEST
Every year, on February 20th, the Chin State commemorates the event of 1948 when the General Assembly of the Chin State was held in Falam. At the assembly, 5,000 representatives voted to overturn their feudal system and adopt democracy. This day is marked as the day when political power was handed over from monarchs to the people, the day when the people enjoyed freedom.
Women, elders, children, all from neighboring villages, come together to celebrate the pride in the continuity of Chin culture, education, and improved healthcare.
It's a festival where people gather and participate in circles of tribal dances that beat and twirl to the hum of leather drums, choreographing dances of sacrifice and renewal, and showcasing their daggers, passed down from generation to generation, from father to son. All of this is done strictly in traditional attire.
Competitions, both traditional and modern, such as football, tug-of-war, and the greasy pole, come last. It all becomes a mental preparation, a meditation, a positive action regardless of the outcome.
After 70 years, the Chin Festival encapsulates the enthusiasm of all local tribes and ethnicities from across Burma, with their costumes, religions, and traditions, while emphasizing aspects such as mutual love, sharing time, and respect for others.
