In celebration of such a strong Chin culture throughout the city, the annual Chin Cultural Festival will take place at Harmon from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16. Admission is free for everyone who attends.

There will be a food sampling of traditional Chin dishes and a fashion show that will show off antique Chin clothing. Songs will be sung by Chin students from various elementary and middle schools, and the Chin club will perform classical dance performances such as the bamboo dance.

“We’ve been practicing for a total of three months, meeting every Wednesday to perfect the bamboo dance,” senior Chin club vice president Hung Mang said. “I hold the bamboo sticks and constantly move them in the pattern of the dance. I do this for 20 minutes straight, and by the time we’re done practicing my back hurts and my arms sometimes get bruises where the sticks hit me from time to time.”

Central zone leader Andy Plunkett first came up with the idea of the Chin Cultural Festival seven years ago during his time as Harmon’s principal, and many look forward to it every year.

“I’ve been going to the festival since I was a freshman, [and] now I’m a senior so this has been around my entire high school career,” senior Chin club secretary Lian Ceu said. “To me, these festivals are the one time where I can show off my pride in my culture.”

To many Chin students, this festival symbolizes their character and heritage.

“This festival is the pride and joy of the Chin club,” senior Chin club president Lydia Bor said. “It’s a chance for us to be able to show everyone about what it means to be Chin.”