Aizawl: The 2026 edition of Hnahsin Kut, also known as the Festival of the Cosmos, concluded on Friday night after 11 days of celebrations in the open air in Champhai town in northeastern Mizoram, near the Myanmar border.Organised by the Champhai Nature Conservancy (CNC) with support from Mizoram govt, the festival was held from Oct 6 to 16. It sought to highlight the potential of community-led initiatives to link nature, culture and creative experiences with sustainable tourism and local economic opportunities.Addressing the closing ceremony, Mizoram tourism minister Lalnghinglova Hmar extended greetings to the people on the occasion of Hnahsin Kut. He highlighted the economic and other benefits the festival had brought to Champhai and surrounding areas. He also thanked the CNC, the community-based organisation that conceptualised and initiated the festival, for its efforts.Hmar said people in Mizoram were increasingly appreciating the state’s scenic destinations and Mizo artistes. As more Mizos travelled to different places within the state, money circulated in the local economy, supporting businesses and artistes, he said.He added that photographs and accounts shared by travellers helped promote Mizoram’s destinations outside the state and contributed to the growth of tourism.Mizoram is expected to receive a number of tourists in 2026 that is nearly equal to its population, Hmar said, adding that Hnahsin Kut and Champhai had contributed significantly to the achievement.The minister also said Hnahsin Kut had achieved a social media reach of 22.5 million, reflecting the festival’s growing popularity and visibility.He said Mizoram was as beautiful as any place in the world and that Champhai and the state had the potential to host events at the national and international levels. He invited visitors from outside Mizoram to return with their friends and families and encouraged them to share the state’s natural beauty, peaceful atmosphere and hospitality.The closing evening featured a concert by several popular Mizo artistes, drawing a large crowd.
