By A Reporter
SHILLONG: The post harvest festival of the Kuki tribe, Chavang Kut, for which the community has come together after a gap of eight years, gave this year’s Kut personality award to Seikhoha Tuboi(24) and Boithang Haokip (25) who play for the Shillong Lajong Football Club.
Tuboi and Haokip came to the pine city in 2009 and 2008 respectively and play in forward (striker) and mid-field positions.
“In Manipur, Goa and a lot of places people are only crazy about cricket, but I have always liked football better. We used to practice with friends and people from the club would come, watch and select us. But I never expected it,” said Tuboi.
“The experience has been great. People here are crazy about football, even when I am on the road people recognize me and call me. We have travelled to so many places for the matches.”
Travelling means exposure and for Haokip it also means time away from his wife and kid who live in Shillong. He said, “In a year I must be getting around 3 months with family but playing with the club is like a dream come true.”
Owing to continuous travelling for matches in different parts of the country, this was the first time he could make it for the Chavang Kut. When asked about how he would compare celebrations here with the way it is done in the village, he said, “It is really good, but in the village all the dances and everything happen in the open, so the atmosphere is different. Overall I really liked it.”
Don Bosco Hall where the event was being conducted full far beyond its capacity of 500 and whether a video about the past was being shown, songs were being sung or dances were being staged, the audience added to the music with their cheering, clapping and whistling. On one occasion in pure excitement L T Kuki, president of Kuki Inpi Meghalaya, gave money to 13-year-old Gracy Chongloi mid-performance, while she was singing the gospel with her soul, as a token of appreciation. And another singer after her, Mr. S. Houkip was appreciated in this form of spontaneity by three people.
Performances such as dances and ramp walk were not restricted to youngsters but several participants were above 50 years of age.
Dignitaries from the community who attended the event were Dr. T.T Houkip, L T Kuki, president of Kuki Inpi Meghalaya and Rev. David T Lhouvum. Houkip who has been part of the festival in Shillong since its inception says, “The first Chavang Kut in Shillong was celebrated in 1983, there was a break after 2001 until 2009. Then people used to celebrate in their own areas and this year we decided to bring everyone together. The next year it will on an even larger scale as we intend to celebrate our Silver Jubilee.” Present in audience was Rose Killong who had won the title of Miss Kut in 1985.