As Chin people tell it, Chin National Day commemorates the struggle against feudalism, colonialism and imperialism. Yesterday, people from all over Myanmar and abroad came to Falam – Chin State’s former capital – to celebrate the day with wrestling competitions and pillow fights, and by tossing chickens into the air.

A bit of history

More than one significant event took place on February 20, which has been celebrated as Chin National Day since 1951: The Chin National Education Development Organization was formed in 1918; the Chin Hills Union Organization was established in 1928; nine proposals by Chin leaders were accepted for discussion at a general meeting in 1938; and the General Assembly of Chinland was held in 1948. Many Chin people remember these events as expressions of their patriotism and their desire for their own state.

At the 1948 General Assembly, Chin leaders discussed the hardships of Chin people under hereditary chiefs, who imposed heavy taxes and subjected their people to forced, unpaid labor. The assembly initiated the establishment of a democratic administrative system in Chin areas.

Myanmar’s first prime minister, U Nu, attended the first Chin National Day celebration in Mindat in 1951. But later, Myanmar’s military rulers previously tried to replace Chin National Day with “Chin State Day”, which Chin people saw as an attempt to erase their national identity.

Following negotiations with the Chin National Front in 2013, the Thein Sein government finally recognized Chin National Day.

How Chin people party

At this year’s celebration in Falam, hundreds of people walked down hundreds of steps and steep hills to a rocky field to watch the day’s roster of cultural performances.

Dance groups came from around Chin State to perform traditional routines in resplendent traditional attire.

One dance featured a team of men hoisting a bamboo platform onto their shoulders with a lady standing on it. The men shuttled the lady around a circle of spectators as she tossed candy into the crowd.

Eventually, the movements of the men carrying the platform grew frenetic, until they were bouncing the platform up and down, and the lady on top had to struggle to keep her balance.

While they were bouncing her, she removed two live chickens from two baskets on the platform and held them up to the crowd by the wings. After an uncomfortable few minutes of watching her hold up the chickens with their wings bent back and their fat bodies hanging, she tossed the chickens to her fans.

According to one festival-goer, the chicken-tossing-lady routine is common at Chin celebrations. The chickens and other goodies are donated by wealthy people, and the lady on the platform is chosen either for her looks or for being related to the donors.

There was a wrestling (“paih”) competition, too, and a pillow fight in which the aim is to knock your opponent from a bamboo beam.

One tent at the festival contained relics of Chin history. On display were portraits of Chin political leaders, including the leaders of the 1918 rebellion against British recruiters during WWI.

There was also some traditional hunting gear on display.

Another tent was dedicated to infrastructure development in Chin State, which is widely known to not be at the top of the priority list for the Myanmar government.

Chin State is the poorest of Myanmar’s states and regions.  It has few and notoriously terrible roads, and much of the development that does happen here is paid for by international organizations or other countries.

Nonetheless, portraits of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw looked down from the wall of the tent with satisfaction.

Over 80 percent of Chin people are Christian. Many were excited when they saw this Jesus-looking guy at the festival.

And like every public gathering in Myanmar, this one had an abundance of adorable babies.

Happy Chin National Day!