Aizawl, October 1 (Daily Kiran) : After a three-year hiatus, Mizoram’s much-anticipated Anthurium Festival kicked off on October 1, 2026, in the villages of Ailawng and Reik, located in the Mamit district. The three-day event highlights gardening, adventure, tribal culture, music, and local tourism.
Organized by the Mizoram Tourism Department in collaboration with the Horticulture Department, the festival aims to promote Anthurium cultivation while showcasing the state’s picturesque landscapes, cultural heritage, traditional games, local cuisine, handicrafts, and rural tourism to both national and international audiences.
Tourism Minister Lalhmingliana Hmar emphasized that the festival’s return reflects the government’s broader vision to boost tourism while ensuring that local communities benefit from its growth. He stated, “Tourism should not only benefit the destinations but also create value and opportunities for those who make these places special. The Anthurium Festival connects our horticulture, natural scenery, culture, and communities into one experience, with the larger goal of strengthening the local tourism economy.”
Hmar encouraged visitors to utilize local transportation, savor local dishes, purchase from local vendors, and engage with local traditions. This, he believes, will help the tourism benefits reach a broader section of society. He stressed the importance of keeping the tourism development rooted in the local populace and providing unique experiences from the state on both national and global platforms. The festival serves as a gateway to explore Mizoram’s mountains, scenic beauty, and communities.
The inauguration featured C. Lalzawivunga, the Horticulture Minister, as the chief guest. The festival is closely linked to the expansion of Anthurium farming among local communities, with significant contributions from women-led farming initiatives within the Anthurium Growers Society. Anthurium has become one of the primary horticultural crops in Mizoram, with farmers exporting flowers to various markets across the country and beyond.
Attendees will enjoy flower exhibitions, nursery tours, and garden experiences, along with opportunities to visit key tourist sites such as Ngai Tlang, Ailawng Tlang, and Reik Tlang. Adventure activities include the Reik Tlang sunrise trek and explorations of caves like Khwangchera Puk, Thawngpawanga Puk, and Ngaihtei Puk.
Visitors can also immerse themselves in traditional Mizoram homes, community life, and local cultural practices while exploring nearby villages. The festival features traditional Mizoram games and competitions, including Insukanawar, Inbuan, Kalchete, and Insaihruihpawh, along with shooting contests and engaging activities for children. Performances of Cheraw and other folk dances, traditional music, fashion shows, local cuisine, and exhibitions of handicrafts are also highlights.
On October 2, the festival will host “Leikapui Night,” where Mizoram artists will perform popular old songs. The grand finale on October 3 will feature prominent artists.
Officials anticipate that the festival will create economic opportunities for local transport operators, vendors, eateries, homestay owners, guides, artisans, and flower producers in Ailawng and Reik.
Preparations for the festival involved representatives from various government departments, the Young Mizo Association, and community leaders from Reik and Ailawng, along with the organizing team from the Anthurium Growers Society and Mizo Indigenous Games.
The Anthurium Festival is part of Mizoram’s extensive tourism and festival calendar for 2026, showcasing the state’s horticulture, music, culture, local cuisine, adventure activities, and community-based tourism.
The festival will continue until October 3, 2026.
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