Mizoram is one of the seven sisters in the North Eastern part of India. The rich cultural landscape of Mizoram is equally stunning as its scenic beauty. Many folk dance forms of the state reflect the lifestyle, beliefs, culture, and traditions of the Mizo people. Here are some of the folk dances endemic to Mizoram.
Folk Dance Styles Of Mizoram
1. Chailam
Chailam is a Mizo dance form that originates in the 1st century CE and is an integral part of the celebrations of Chapchar Kut, an important festival in Mizoram. In this dance, the male and female performers stand alternately to form a circle. While the women hold the waists of the men, the men hold onto the shoulders of the women. The musicians playing the drums and mithun’s horns are in the middle of the circle.
The dance movements are made rhythmically to the left and right as per the beats of the drum while the lyrics of the Chai song are sung in chorus with the sounds emanating from mithun’s horns. Chapchar Kut festival runs for a week with daily performances by the Chailam dancers.
2. Cheraw
Cheraw dance is an old traditional dance originating in the 1st century CE when the Mizos were in the Yunan province of China, long before their migration into India, sometime in the 13th century CE. This is also called bamboo dance due to the use of bamboo to perform it.
Cheraw dance entails two groups of men sitting on the ground face to face and tapping horizontal and cross bamboo staves in open and closed patterns in synchronization with rhythmic beats. In contrast, the women dancers dance in and out between the beats of the bamboo staves. The women dancers wear multi-colored traditional Mizo costumes such as Vakiria, Puanchei, Thihna, and Kawrchei. Cheraw dance is performed in almost all festivals in Mizoram.
3. Khuallam
Khuallam means the guests’ dance and is performed during the Khuangchawi ceremony. The guests invited to the ceremony must enter the place of celebration while dancing Khuallam. The dance is typically performed by swaying the Puandum wrapped over the shoulders. Puandum is a traditional hand-woven Mizo cloth featuring green, red, black, and yellow stripes. There is no singing, and the dance movements are made to the tunes made by a set of gongs known as Darbu.
4. Chawnglaizam
Chawnglaizam is a fold dance form of the Mizo community known as Pawi. It is performed by the husband of a deceased woman to mourn her death. The husband keeps dancing until he gets tired and is then relieved by his relatives, who dance on his behalf. Chawnglaizam is also performed to celebrate festivals and trophies brought home by hunters. On such occasions, groups of men and women perform this dance to the beats of drums with shawls to aid their arm movements.
5. Chheih Lam
Chheih Lam dance involves a single dancer surrounded by others forming a circle. The single dancer performs alone initially but is eventually joined by the others. A song, tunes of bamboo tubes, and drum beats accompany the dance performance. The significance of this dance form is to represent the spirit of happiness and joy.
6. Par Lam
Par Lam dance is performed by women attired in bright clothes and wearing flowers in their hair. The dancers sing along as they dance and wave their hands. A group of men provides the music through their guitars.
7. Sarlamkai
Sarlamkai dance originated to celebrate victory in war. In this dance, men and women stand in alternate positions and dance in circles. There are no songs, and the dance movements are made to the tunes of gongs, cymbals, and drums.
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