By Hemant SharmaSure enough, Mizoram is just among the few other states in the country where you can enjoy the stunning natural beauty along with the still-preserved culture, especially the tribal culture. Today, though, we’re here specifically to talk about the traditional dresses of Mizoram for male and female, and it is this part that makes you feel that you’re visiting a special place and experiencing a different but rich culture. Here we go.
Traditional Dresses of Mizo Women
1. Puan
The Puan is a very nice traditional skirt that Mizo women wear. For those who don’t know anything about it yet, well, it is uniquely wrapped around the waist and flows all the way down to the legs. It normally has a black-and-white look and is made of a very soft type of cotton. But factories nowadays make skirts that used to be handmade. The Puan is a design that speaks simplicity yet is so cool and fine-looking.
2. Puanchei
The Puanchei is a very bright and colorful variation of the Puan. It is worn at festivals like Chapchar Kut and Pawl Kut. It goes with a neat little blouse. The skirt designs are super colorful while the top is mainly black. They wear this for merrymaking and celebratory dances because it expresses joy and tradition on such a large scale.
3. Kawrechi
The Kawrechi is, indeed, quite beautiful when worn by women alone. It is actually a blouse, which is mostly put on with a Puanchei. These blouses are made majorly at home and have some really cool patterns. It was completely made of cotton but these days it is made using different materials. Surely, girls would wear it during festivals or when performing traditional dance.
4. Zakuolaisen (Unmarried Girls)
This dress is only for unmarried girls. It has an ultra-bright red blouse with fabulously cool stripes. The end result is usually worn during occasions in society for everybody to know that the girl isn’t married yet. It might sound a bit weird to some of you, but it is perfectly fine down there in Mizoram. This is a very modern touch and a cultural symbol also.
Traditional Dresses of Mizo Men
1. Pachhu
A cloth called a Pachhu is worn by Mizo men. It is a simple drape wrapped around the waist and slung over the shoulder, made of cotton, mostly white. A coat with red-and-white bands can be worn for warmth when it is somewhat chilly outside. Simple yet stylish, that is.
2. Festival-Specific Attire
Men wear clothes with a lot of colors during festivals. For Chapchar Kut, white clothes with cool red and black embroidery are worn. Their headgear is stunning, made of sticks decorated with feathers. On summer days, men may also prefer wearing turban-style or traditional head wraps.
Tribal Variations in Costumes
Sure enough, Mizoram has many tribes and without a single doubt, you can really tell which tribe is which by just taking a note of what they wear. Here:
Lusei Tribe
The women wear a pretty cool blue skirt, a white jacket, and another cloth wrapped around the body in this specific tribe. They wear exquisite headgear worked in bamboo and cane, with men wearing simple white or blue cotton clothes. During festivals, a tribal fighter might delightfully disdain the pretty skins of wild animals like tiger or bear on his back while carrying a gory-looking gun or a traditional weapon.
Hmar Tribe
This tribe is very good with weaving and makes a dress called Hmaram (or Kawkpui Zikzial), mostly handmade. Well, mostly, this type of dress is popular among kids, and they seem to be kinda fond of this dress too.
Paite Tribe
Paite people wear a very special dress called Thangou Puon. But only the bravest and toughest warrior who has won battles shall wear this. Totally a dress of honor and pride.
Riang Tribe
Theirs is a culture similar to that of the other Mizo tribes but with a flair of its own.
Unisex & Shared Costumes
Ngotekherh
But these days, while this Puan is mostly worn by men, some women also like to wear it. Why? Well, it is a very easygoing garment tied under the belt.
Hmar am
It is a wonderfully deep blue cloth, handmade from cotton. Actually, very simple, not also very hard or rough, and people wear it comfortably with no discrimination of gender.
Cyhna Hno
This dress is a silk one with really neat embroidery on its edges. Obviously, even both genders put it on for great occasions.