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Mizoram, predominantly a
Christian populated state, if towards the southernmost tip of the North-Eastern
states, sharing borders with Manipur, Assam, Tripura then jutting down between
Myanmar and Bangladesh. The word Mizo means highlander, a collective name given by
their neighbours to a number of tribes which settled in the area. They are
originally believed to have come from North-Western China and gradually pushed
themselves towards their present homeland, less than 300 years ago. The state has
thick bamboo forests. Rivers run in narrow ribbons that seem to be challenging
onlookers to plunge in for some challenging onlookers to plunge in for some
adventure and excitement. The hill ranges running in north-south direction are
resplendent with green vegetation throughout the year. The highest peak, Phawngpui
(meaning vast meadow) known as
Blue
Mountain
, a garden of rhododendron of arboretum and veitchianum species is 2,065 mts.
(7,100 ft.) and the average height of the hills is around 1,000 mts. There are a
number of a hilly streams and rivers which murmur through idyllic scenario.
The Mizos boast of number of folk
and community dances that have been handed down over the generations. It is in
these dances that the visitor can get glimpse of the tribal heritage of the Mizos
in all its exotic hues. Most important of these dances are Cheraw (the bamboo
dance), Khuallam, Solakia and Chheih lam. Interestingly, none of these dances were
intended for the stage they evolved through community involvement and
participation.
Perhaps because of a thorough
influence of nature, the Mizos love flowers. Every house seems decorated with
orchids and pots of geranium, begonia and balsam apart from over a thousand
varieties of medicinal plants which grow wild here.
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India
