Mizoram All Geared up for a Grand Christmas and New Year Celebration

Guwahati: Mizoram is now all geared up for a grand Christmas and New Year celebration after the newly formedMizo National Front (MNF) government taking reigns.

The Christian dominated state has once again soaked in yuletide spirit with sounds of Christmas carols and songs echoing from the streets, churches and almost every household across the State.

This time Mizoram will witness the 148^th year of Christmas celebration after it was first celebrated by the colonial British troops back in 1871.

Youths of different churches were seen organizing Christmas carols in the streets and localities singing Christmas songs and hymns to convey the message of peace and joy brought by the birth of Jesus.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful celebrations.

According to sources in the Mizoram Police, nine duty posts were being set up at places in and around Aizawl, where drug users and drinkers used to congregate.Round the clock patrolling by police personnel on foot have also been pressed into service.

Coordination committees have also been formed in all the eight district headquarters with the officials of the police, excise and narcotics departments.

The security agencies have also stepped up vigil at the entry points along borders with Assam, Tripura and Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Mizoram once again is all set to celebrate dry Christmas and New Year as the new MNF government has declared dry days from December 21 to January 14.

Notably, the MNF stormed back to power ousting the erstwhile Congress government with promises to re-impose liquor ban.

Going by its pre poll promise, the MNF government in its first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, decided to declare dry days from December 21 to January 14 next year and shut all liquor shops operated by the State agencies. The ban on sale of liquor during the period also applies to private vendors.

It may be mentioned that total prohibition was first imposed in Mizoram via the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act of 1995 during the Congress rule in 1995. The Congress replaced this act by the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Act, 2014 to bring in ‘controlled prohibition’.

Also Read: Mizoram: New Government Set to Celebrate Dry Christmas