Coffs Harbour’s Chin community celebrate National Day Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News Photo Gallery by News Of The Area - Modern Media - February 26, 2023 On Saturday 18 February the 75th anniversary of Chin National Day was celebrated in Coffs Harbour. THE 75th anniversary of Chin National Day was observed locally over the weekend and on the official day, Monday 20 February 2023. The ethnic Chin group from Myanmar has many members in and around Coffs Harbour. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “Chin National Day falls on February 20, and commemorates the start of democracy when the Chin people chose to change from having an hereditary system of village headmen to democratically elected leaders,” a spokesperson for the Myanmar community in Coffs Harbour, Aye Win, told News Of The Area. “The day also commemorates those who have fought and continue to fight for freedom, democracy and self-determination for the Chin people. “This struggle has intensified since the military coup in 2021 and in the last two years many Chin people have been arrested, tortured and killed by the military junta and thousands have had to flee their homes due to fighting,” she explained. On Saturday at Cavanbah Hall the community celebrated with speeches by special guests; City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh. There was a performance of traditional dancing and singing and a showcase of traditional cultural attire. As well as an opportunity to honour Chin identity, culture and customs, the day was a fundraiser to help support Chin people in Myanmar who have become homeless due to the ongoing conflict. Celebrations also took the form of a soccer tournament on Sunday. For some it is important to commemorate the day on the actual anniversary date with celebrations on Monday night. “This included an awards presentation for the soccer tournament and traditional dancing and singing performances, held at the Toormina Community Centre.” Here it was mostly Chin people from a different region of Chin state than seen at Saturday’s event, all displaying their own unique traditional clothes and dances. “There is a great diversity within Chin people, with around 50 different Chin languages spoken,” said Aye Win. By Andrea FERRARI Ngun Tin Tial gives a speech about the history of Chin National Day. Celebrations for National Chin Day. The Cavanbah Hall was filled with colour and ceremony with the Coffs Harbour Chin community. National Chin Day celebrations included a soccer tournament. Monica Hein explaining the significance of her cultural jewelry and showing what traditional Mindat Chin face tattoos looked like. A Mindat Chin band readying for a traditional knife dance performance on Monday evening’s celebrations. Mindat Chin men showing friendship by sharing a drink using a horn cup.
