5th Freshers' Meet cum KUT Celebration 2012

An imposing stage banner, an online live webcast team, a swarm of professional photographers and high definition advertising banners glared at you as you entered the Birla Science auditorium, home of the annual Freshers’ Meet cum Kut Celebration of the Kuki Students Organisation, Hyderabad. This was the 2^nd combined celebration of the Freshers’ cum Kut; an event welcoming new members of the Kuki family into Hyderabad while giving them a show of their lives through the Chavang Kut celebrations organised by the KSO(H) team, on the 26^th of October, 2012.  And just like the previous this year’s too was set out to be another memorable event.

Chavang Kut is one of the largest festivals of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of people from the North Eastern states of India, welcoming a bountiful harvest after a laborious year of toiling in the fields. The celebrations kicked off at 11 am sharp, and for those arriving any later the doorman’s post seemed to be the only viable option left as the auditorium was decked out by a sea of women, something which KSO(H) prides itself in, through their hard labour of reaching out to the nursing students from Manipur, in and around the twin cities.

The chief guest for this year’s celebrations was Sri. Gautam Sawang, ADGP, APSP who himself hails from the North East – Arunachal Pradesh. The Guest of Honour was Sri. Karam Komireddy, Managing Partner, Komireddy & Komireddy. A few representatives of the other North East communities in Hyderabad also graced us with their presence such as the Hyderabad Mizo Association and the Eimi Christian Fellowship along with various other dignitaries and well wishers. The Kut Pa for the celebrations was Upa T. Changsan and the Kut Nu was Pi Ruby Haokip. The event was sponsored by Abhyaas, School of Photography & Arts, Mona vie, VL Soft Web & IT Solutions, B-online and NSS Green Power Pvt. Ltd.

The hosts for this year’s event were Mr. William Haokip and Ms. Bempi Baite both students from the University of Hyderabad. And just like last year our female host was once again a research scholar, who seamlessly weaved her way through slick Thadou and English, thoroughly engaging the audience. The event was filled with several traditional dances by some of the nursing schools as well as one by the kids and another by the Banjara Cultural Troupe, who were thoroughly entertaining even calling out the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour to join in and shake their legs. Musical performances by the student community were in abundance as it is no secret that the Kuki community harbours many talented singers.

This year’s cultural display was a special one as it featured designs by one of our members Ms. Meme Haokip a NIFT graduate. Everyone had an entertaining time with several fortunate members winning the lucky draws, going home with large bottles of Monavie Fruit drinks and other goodies. Gl. Henpithang Haolai and Ng. Chongja Lhungdim won the coveted Mr. and Ms. Fresher title for this year, the Mr. Fresher having been selected from an exclusive pool of 3 brave men getting a strong approval from the audience. Kukis from over 10 countries also got to experience the event through the live web-cast of the celebrations made possible by one of our sponsors. And as the tradition goes of saving the best for last, the AHSISOMELNG BAND took stage to unite all those gathered to sing along and declare to the world that “We are the World.” The celebrations having reached its apex ended with ‘community-feasting’ in the true spirit of the KUT festival.