Aizawl: ‘Missionary Day’, anniversary of the arrival of two Welsh Christian missionaries, was on Monday observed and celebrated across the Christian-dominated north eastern state of Mizoram.
Government offices and educational institutions were closed for the day as the state government declared the day as a public holiday.
The local churches of the Baptist Church of Mizoram held prayer and worship services and also organised community feasts.
Rev. J.H. Lorrain and Rev.F.W. Savidge had arrived in the then Lushai country (Mizoram) by boat from Assam on January 11, 1894 and spread Christianity which resulted in conversion of almost all the Mizos to the new religion, The Statesman reported.
The Welsh missionaries were responsible for the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in northern part of Mizoram and the Baptist Church in the southern part of the state.