AIZAWL, Dec 24 � The tribal Christians in Mizoram are enthusiastic to celebrate Christmas, the most important and joyous festival for the Mizos after the advent of Christianity in this tiny hilly Northeastern State in the 18th century.
Preparations are now gaining full momentum in all parts of the State with churches making arrangement for holy celebration and pompous traditional feasts in every locality.
Church service programmes for the Christmas Day have also been set ready by local churches, in fact quite well in advance, such that Christmas sermons and Christmas tunes are delivered in a grand and enthusiastic manner. As a tradition, almost all churches in the State will sanctify the very day of Christmas dedicating it for prayer and worship services in church followed by singing of traditional Christmas songs by congregations for the whole day and night after church services.
Community feasts, an important tradition of the Mizos during festivities even before Christian Missionaries came here, would be held on December 26 which may continue for two-three days depending on the contributions of the villagers.
Over the past one week, almost all local churches organised gospel crusade and other gospel programmes including Carol songs to bring spiritual blessing to church members and to warm up the grand religious festival.
A must during Christmas season is the pre-Christmas shopping when people thronged the markets and malls filling up all streets. In a bid to enable hassle-free shopping, the administration has converted several shopping areas into no vehicle zone.
An eye-catcher of the pre-Christmas celebrations is the beauty of the street decorations. In the State capital almost all streets are glittering with electronic and paper decorations. People are thronging out in large numbers to witness these streets decorations. The same is followed in all district headquarters.
The State Government has also announced handsome prize for the most beautiful decoration. This year, the pre-Christmas or Urlawk Zan will witness musical concerts organised local churches in all villages and urban areas. Though a religious festival, the Christmas celebrations are mixed with traditional community feasts and social gatherings mainly by young people who also organise group outings and candlelight dinners in restaurants or at homes.
To enable people celebrate Christmas under peaceful environment, the State Government and CYMA had earlier called a ban on firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials during Christmas and New Year season.
Historians have recorded that the first Christmas in Mizoram soil was celebrated back in 1871, not by the Mizos but the invading colonial British troops near Tuivai river on the present Mizoram-Manipur border and the Mizo warriors attacked the soldiers during celebrations.