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Mizoram

Pawndum - Traditional Art of Mizoram

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From The ‘Land of Mizos’

Mizoram, a beautiful land-locked state tucked away in the Northeast corner of India, is famous for its evergreen hills and dense bamboo jungles. Home to numerous breathtaking waterfalls, scenic valleys, picturesque villages and the highest peak Phawngpui, or ‘the Blue mountain’, Mizoram is aptly known as ‘The Lush Green Paradise’. With its wide array of festivals, dances, handicrafts, flora and fauna, and its natural scenic beauty, this ‘Land of Mizos’ has much to offer to its visitors. Hmaram, an elaborately decorated textile of the Mizo tribe, is a popular traditional short skirt that is worn by the women of Mizoram. The cloth is wrapped around the waist by tucking in at the waist to fasten it. Commonly worn during festive dances and traditional ceremonies, the Hmaram is a Geographical Indication (GI) registered craft.

The Weaving of Hmaram

The Hmaram is one of the oldest patterned textiles of the Mizo tribe. A single loom width fabric, made from handspun indigo-dyed and natural white cotton, Hmaram is admired for its intricate motifs, which are mostly inspired by nature. Woven on a loin loom or handloom, the Hmaram textile requires highly skilled weavers, who incorporate the designs and motifs by using supplementary yarns while weaving. The process of weaving this textile is a little complex. Typically, a white thread is used as warp and a black thread as the weft. The cloth is woven in such a manner that it does not show any white color, except in the motifs. The Mizo craftsmen are deeply influenced by the flora around them and try to replicate it in their textiles. Majority of the industry and manufacturing units of Hmaram are located in Aizwal, the capital of Mizoram.

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Mizoram

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A Heritage Weave

Hmaram is considered as the oldest patterned textile of the Mizo (Lusei or Lushai) tribe. Worn by women during festive dances and official ceremonies, it is a traditional weave that forms an integral part of Mizoram’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Carrying an indelible stamp of the local flora, Hmaram often incorporates motifs like Kawkzialpui (inspired by the curled new shoot of an edible fern), Lenbuangthuam (‘Lenbuang’ is a tree with acacia like leaves and ‘thuam’ means a junction with two or more paths), and Disul (‘Di’ refers to a species of grass and ‘sul’ is a term used for the direction in which grass bends as passers by brush against it).

A Gift from the North East

Besides exploring the rolling hills and the untouched forests of Mizoram, visitors must also visit the local markets for a variety of products ranging from handlooms to art. The Hmaram, which is available in wide range of motifs makes for a beautiful souvenir. A reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the North East, it is a must buy for every woman exploring the stunning lands of the Lushai Highlanders.