Tribal Women's Dress

The most preferred attire worn by Mizo women is a traditional dress called puan, which resembles a wrap-around skirt. What makes puan so popular among Mizo women is its beautiful design and perfect fit. Puan generally comes in shades of black and white. During festivals, the women wear a dress known as puanchei and kawrechi, which is a handmade cotton blouse.

Tribal Women's Dress

Special Attire

This special attire is a single cloth that is tightly wrapped around the waist. A haversack is worn over the shoulder with a fighting dah or dao over the other. A gun in the hand completes the attire. The men who have earned the title of Thanhchhuah or the one who has killed men in a war, wear a cloth of a certain pattern, along with a special headdress known as chhawndawl and arke-ziak. Some of the dresses that can be worn by both men and women include the ngotekherh puan, the hmaram and the cyhna hno puan.

Special Attire

Tribal Men's Dress

Mizo men lead simple lives that is evident from the way they dress. A single piece of cloth, 7-ft-long and 5-ft-wide is turned into a man’s dress. It is worn by holding one corner in left hand with the cloth passing over the left shoulder, behind the back and then across the chest under the right arm. The end is thrown over the left shoulder. Bands of red and white in different patterns give the coat an ornamental look. During the winter season, the men wrap an extra piece of fabric around their upper body paired with a white coat. The sleeves of the coat have white and red bands. During summers, the men usually prefer a dress that can be wrapped around the waist. A turban is worn on the head to give protection from scorching heat during the summer season.

Tribal Men's Dress

Riang

The traditional dresses worn by the members of the Riang community are quite simple. While the men wear a traditional handwoven loin cloth with a piece of cloth wrapped around the upper body, women wear a long cloth known as Mnai, which resembles a wrap-around. To cover the upper half of their bodies, women wear the Rikatouh. The colourful fabrics used in these dresses are usually woven by the women of the community.

Riang

Paiteis

Known for their intricate and indigenous designs, the community of Paiteis makes highly attractive costumes. Their garment of choice is the Thangou Puon, which is a traditional dress. 

Paiteis

Ornaments

The ornaments worn by men and women of Mizoram are considered an essential adornment and are in perfect contrast to their colourful dresses. Most Lushai men sport a variety of products in their hair. A two-pronged pin with a head-shaped g-skewers of ivory, metal and bone, is one of the most common items made in brass. Thifen, a small beaded necklace is also a popular ornament worn by different tribes of the region. Another popular jewellery item flaunted by the Mizo people is a necklace having large amber beads known as the thihus. Women wear a headgear decked with a bamboo band called varika, which sports colourful feathers and beetle wings.

Ornaments

Ornaments

The ornaments worn by men and women of Mizoram are considered an essential adornment and are in perfect contrast to their colourful dresses. Most Lushai men sport a variety of products in their hair. A two-pronged pin with a head-shaped g-skewers of ivory, metal and bone, is one of the most common items made in brass. Thifen, a small beaded necklace is also a popular ornament worn by different tribes of the region. Another popular jewellery item flaunted by the Mizo people is a necklace having large amber beads known as the thihus. Women wear a headgear decked with a bamboo band called varika, which sports colourful feathers and beetle wings.

Ornaments

Hmars

The members of Hmar tribe,, especially women, are great weavers who work on tiny heirlooms. The homespun yarn is dyed in different colours and woven into exquisite clothes that are generally made for the family. The Hmar tribe traces its origin to Sinlung, whose exact location is still unknown. Many poems, tales and songs about this place have been composed and handed down from generation to generation. The tribe is known for its rich culture and vibrant folk dances. Its conventional folk dances and songs feature battles, adventures and history. A type of drum, khuong, is used to complement the dance beats. Other musical instruments that are used include darmang (flat brass gong), perkhuong (guitar made of bamboo), hna mut (leaf instrument) and theilia (bamboo flute). The clothing that the dancers wear is also quite colourful. The men put on a special headgear made of feathers and wear a shawl called hmar puon. Meanwhile, the girls accessorise with ornaments like rings, bangles and seeded necklace.

Hmars