Aizawl, July 13 (IANS) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday said that the history and cultural heritage of the people of the Northeast had been preserved through their traditional attire, handicrafts, and indigenous skills long before they were documented in writing.

He said these traditional practices and artistic expressions continue to serve as living repositories of the region’s identity, history and collective memory.

Inaugurating the week-long ‘Zo Fair’ (Aadhi Bazaar) in Aizawl, the Chief Minister said the products displayed at the fair reflected centuries of inherited craftsmanship and cultural traditions.

He observed that while modern technology has enabled the mass production of many goods, traditional handcrafted products still require painstaking manual work. These crafts, Lalduhoma said, are an integral part of the people’s identity and serve as a living record of their history and culture.

He urged artisans to take pride in their skills and not to undervalue or abandon their traditional craftsmanship. Although these products are made primarily for their own communities, the Chief Minister noted that appreciation and demand from outside are steadily increasing, creating better market opportunities.

He also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED, and the concerned departments for their efforts in conserving and promoting tribal and forest-based products.

Welcoming participants from outside the state, Lalduhoma invited them to enjoy their stay in Mizoram, interact freely with the local people as members of one family rather than as visitors, and, if possible, explore Aizawl and visit local households to experience the hospitality of the Mizo people.

The fair is jointly organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, and the Cooperation Department, Government of Mizoram. The fair showcases a wide range of traditional handicrafts and indigenous products brought by artisans from various North Eastern States as well as different parts of Mizoram.

Rural Development Minister Lalnilawma said the cooperative movement has brought prosperity to many communities worldwide and expressed confidence that Mizoram would also achieve similar success. Referring to the recently held Horti Fair at Lammual, he noted that sales worth around Rs 20 lakh were recorded in a single day.

He reiterated that achieving the vision of Viksit Mizoram 2047, frequently emphasised by the Chief Minister, requires every village in the state to become self-reliant, and said efforts in that direction have already begun.

TRIFED Regional Manager P.S. Thuingaleng said Mizoram’s Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) are among the best-performing in the North Eastern Region.

He, however, pointed out that their products require more attractive packaging, which would significantly improve their marketability. Thuingaleng also thanked the Chief Minister for inaugurating the fair.

The fair features 25 stalls, including 13 stalls from various Northeastern states and 12 stalls from Mizoram. Among them are two Tribal Food Cuisine stalls, while the remaining stalls display handwoven textiles, bamboo products, food items and other natural produce. The fair has been designed to enable direct interaction and trade between producers and buyers without intermediaries. It will remain open throughout the week.

–IANS

sc/dan