Mizo cultural fest to begin tomorrow

Zofest or Cultural Festival of Mizos, would begin from tomorrow at Haflong in Assam's North Cachar district, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo Students Association president Lalhmachhuana today said.
The festival could not begin today as schedule due to reported objections from Hmar People's Convention-Democrats militants.
Lalhmachhuana told PTI over phone from Haflong that an emergent meeting of different organisations including Hmar Inpui, the apex body of Hmar community decided to go ahead with the programme from tomorrow.
MZP sources said that Manipur-based HPC-D which has been at loggerheads with Mizoram government objected to Zofest in the eleventh hour as Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla was invited to attend the proposed three-day festival as chief guest.

The peace talks between the Mizoram government and the HPC-D during 2013 ended in a deadlock over extension of suspension of operation as the delegation of the militant group felt that the state government was not sincere in solving the Hmar problems.
Lalhmachhuana said that Lal Thanhawla would still grace the festival as chief guest.
Ethnic Mizos from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Assam congregated in the picturesque hill station of North Cachar district to participate in the Zofest.