Festive season celebrated with fervour despite Mautam famine

Aizawl, Jan 2 (UNI) The entire state of Mizoram celebrated the festive season, comprising Christmas and New Year, with pomp and fervour, despite the devastating Mautam (bamboo flowering) famine in the rural areas.

Police said here today that the festive season this year was very peaceful, with considerable fall in the crime rate as well as vehicular accidents, as compared to the previous years.

People of other faiths, including Hindus, Muslims and Jewish followers, joined hands with their Christian brethren to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Owing to the timely action of the Centre and state government in supplying sufficient rice stocks to the rural areas, all the villages in the state were able to offer the Christmas and New Year feasts, a century-old tradition among the Mizo Christians.

However, the Chaltlang and Mission Veng localities in Aizawl abstained from throwing the New Year feast yesterday and instead distributed the money among the famine-affected families.

On the New Year's eve, revellers flocked out in the streets at the stroke of the midnight hour to welcome the year 2008.

The Aizawl skyline dazzled with fireworks and crackers as the countdown to the New Year began.

Except a few mischief-mongers, who were apprehended by the police, the revellers celebrated the New Year peacefully, police said.

Meanwhile, the streets of the city today wore a deserted look as government offices and majority of the shops remained closed as the people enjoyed an extended holiday.

UNI ZS DPM DB1554