Aizawl: Mizoram is seeking to position itself as the “Winter Capital of India”, with the state government planning to expand its Winter Festival into a larger platform for tourism, entrepreneurship and seasonal attractions.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma made the announcement while chairing a meeting of the Organising Committee for the Winter Festival 2026 at the Planning & Programme Implementation Conference Hall.
“We are actively working to establish Mizoram as the ‘Winter Capital of India,’ and our most prominent initiative toward this goal is the Winter Festival,” Lalduhoma said.
The Winter Festival was held at Lammual in Aizawl in December last year, drawing crowds for concerts, food and craft stalls and other Christmas-season activities.
The week-long festival, held from December 17 to 23, also provided a platform for local producers and entrepreneurs to showcase and sell indigenous food, handmade products and locally made goods.
Last year’s festival also sought to promote Mizoram as a tourism destination, with Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar highlighting its role in providing a space for families and young people while supporting local entrepreneurship. The celebrations culminated in a Christmas Parade, while the Mizoram Tourism Calendar 2026 was also released during the festival.
The government now plans to build on the festival with a wider range of activities in 2026, involving multiple departments.
Among the programmes proposed are an angling event under the Fisheries Department, a Bamboo Innovation Exhibition under the Commerce and Industries Department and a photography exhibition under the Information & Public Relations Department.
Christmas street decorations and a Christmas Parade are also planned, along with other events intended to create a distinctive winter experience and attract visitors to the state.
Lalduhoma said that although the Winter Festival is being spearheaded by the Tourism Department, its broader objectives would require collaboration across government departments. He urged each department to identify activities within its area that could contribute to the festival.
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