Hawaiian guitarists to save dying music

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Aizawl (UNI): In a bid to revive and promote the , Mizoram's Hawaian guitarists under Hawaiian Guitar Musical Society today staged a 'Hawaiian Guitar Festival', first of its kind, at the Aizawl Press Club.

''Hawaiian guitar has lost its popularity in Mizoram. This festival is meant to revive the 'Hawaiian melody' and promote it among younger generation. By organizing this festival we also throw a challenge before the youth to try to learn Hawaiian guitars,'' E Lalhleia, a sexagenarian Hawaiian guitarist said at the festival today.

"Although Hawaiian guitar is not an indigenous music, but it is regarded as part of Mizo culture", he said adding ''Hawaiian guitar was introduced in Mizoram even before the advent of western music.

Even though its origin is somewhere else, it is indispensable from Mizo culture'', he added About 20 Hawaiian guitarists, all of them were in 60s, participated at a competition on two songs, ''Aw Khawngaihtu Pathianin'' a Mizo devotional song and one optional.