Imphal: Chavang Kut, the biggest festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo community, was celebrated on Wednesday across the state with a function at Manipur Rifles first battalion ground.

The post-harvest festival is celebrated every year on November 1. It is an autumn festival of thanksgiving and prayers are offered for a bountiful harvest season and prosperity of the people.

Governor Najma Heptulla hit the gong thrice to mark the start of the celebrations.

Traditional dances like Thadou, Hmar, Kom and Vaiphei of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo were performed.

Heptulla said, "Culture is beyond religion. Though we belong to a religion and may worship any God, we are all united in one thing - that we are all Indians."

She congratulated the people of the state for staying united. She expressed gratitude to the artistes for not just performing the cultural dances but also acknowledging their ancestors who lived a harsh life in the forests. She said people of the state should continue sharing their belongings as their ancestors did with the entire village.

She appealed to the people to embrace their culture, tradition, art, crafts, dresses and food and also help one another to bring growth and development in the state.

Chief minister N. Biren Singh wished that Kut festival would spread the message of love, peace, compassion and forgiveness among the people and the celebrations would help in ensuring peaceful coexistence among all the ethnic groups in the state.

The festival was also celebrated in Tamenglong and Chandel.

A beauty pageant for the Miss Kut title will be organised as a part of the festival. It carries cash rewards of Rs 1,00,000 for the winner, Rs 75,000 for the first runner-up, Rs 50,000 for the second runner-up and Rs 15,000 for those winning the subtitles.