Mizoram is a famous northeast state of India and The name of the state is derived from “Mizo”, the self-described name of the native inhabitants, and “Ram”, which in the Mizo language means “land.” Thus “Mizo-ram” means “land of the Mizos”. Here, We are sharing about the traditional dress of Mizoram of Men and Women.
Traditional Dress of Mizoram For Women
Mizoram is one of the seven sisters belonging to the north-eastern region. This state shares external borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh and internal borders with Assam, Manipur, and Tripura.
Just like the other North-eastern states, the traditional dresses worn by the people of Mizoram are no different. The colorful yet simple dresses attract a lot of people from all over the world.
- Puan– One of the traditional attire worn by women in Mizoram is the traditional dress called ‘Puan’. Puan has shades of black and white.
- Puanchei– is the dress worn by most Mizo women during festivals.
- Pawl Kut and Chapchar Kut– The main dress is the Paul Kut and Chapchar Kut.
- Kawrechi– Another dress worn by Mizo’s girls is Kawrechi. It is a kind of handmade blouse, made up of cotton fabric and worn by Mizo’s women while dancing at festivals
Mizoram Tribal Dress For Women
1. Lusei tribe
Women who belong to the Lusei tribe have a blue skirt stitched from cotton fabric as their traditional dress. The ladies wear this tribe pair this blue skirt with a white jacket and a cloth which one can wrap around the body.
2. Mizo tribes
Zakuolaisen is another traditional dress worn by the unmarried girls of Mizo tribes. It is a blouse with attractive stripes of crimson color on it
Traditional Dress of Mizoram For Men
The dress which is worn by most men comprises cloth around 7 feet long and 5 feet wide. In addition, an extra piece of fabric is wrapped around the upper body during the winter season paired up with a white-colored coat.
There are white and red bands present on the sleeves of the coat along with some other intricate designs. The favorite dress of Mizo men is a red and white-colored coat.
During summers, generally, a dress that can be wrapped around the waist is preferred. To protect from the scorching heat, men generally wear a turban or a pagri on their heads.
Traditional Jewellery of Mizoram
About 95% of the current Mizoram population is of diverse tribal origins. This is the highest concentration of tribal people in India. The Mizo tribals make use of shells, bones, animal claws, teeth, and semi-precious stones for jewelry.
Bridal Dress of Mizoram
Mizos mostly have Christian weddings and hence the attire to is as per the wedding customs. The bride dresses in a white gown and almost every Mizo bride who gets married in a church dons a beautiful white gown on her special day.
The head of the bride is covered with a veil, and she carries a bouquet of flowers in her hand. The color white symbolizes virginity and purity. Some of the brides of Mizoram choose to wear their traditional dress of puanchei at their wedding.
Puanchei is a spectacular dress which is worn by the girls hailing from Mizoram. This dress is a trademark on joyous occasions such as weddings and various festivals celebrated by Mizos.
Puanchei has been the part and parcel of Mizo culture for a long time. Earlier it was made by hands but now it is made by machines.
Culture of Mizoram
The Mizo formed one of the important hill tribes of the Indian sub-continent. Their traditional cherished beliefs, values with various social religious practices as well as a culture have given them a distinct Mizo identity. The Mizo are vibrant, highly cultured, and sociable people. Their rich cultural heritage sets them apart from the others.
The culture of Mizos is intrinsically woven with the practice of Jhuming cultivation. All the activities revolve around the Jhum operation, and their festival is all concerned in one way or another with such agricultural operations.
Festivals of Mizoram
1. Chapchar Kut Festival
The Chapchur Kut festival is one of the major festivals in Mizoram. This vibrant and colorful festival signifies the welcome of spring in Mizoram. In Aizawl, which is the capital of Mizoram, the CHapchar festival also transforms into a giant carnival.
2. Mim Kut Festival
The Mim Kut Festival is another important harvest festival in the state of Mizoram. It is dedicated to loved ones and departed souls. The Importance of the Mim Kut Festival is directly related to the Chapchar festival.
3. Pawl Kut Festival
The Pawl Kut festival is yet another major festival in Mizoram. This is also another harvest festival but with a different significance from other festivals.
Read about the traditional dress of Arunachal pradesh here.
