January 11 is popularly known as ‘Missionary Day’ to mark ‘Chanchintha Thlenni’ or the arrival of the Gospel in Mizoram.
It commemorates the first arrival of Christian missionaries in Mizo soil 118 years ago.
Church services were held all over the state where thanksgiving ceremonies were organised for the advent of Christianity.
On this day in 1894, two missionaries from the United Kingdom - Rev. J. H. Lorrain and Rev. F. W. Savidge, known to the Mizos as Pu Buanga and Sapupa respectively arrived at Sairang, about 20 kilometres from Aizawl, by boat to spread the gospel.
The Presbyterian Church in 1974 began observing the day every year.
The state government also declared January 11 as a public holiday since 1994 when the ‘Gospel Centenary’ was celebrated in the state.