Cheraw dance of the Mizos

Cheraw dance of the Mizos
(NEWS TIME: 26 March, 1984)

The long bamboo poles held by the girls clash rhythmically as they form squares into which the dancers step in and move with a certain sinuous grace as they perform the 'Cheraw' dance. The gaily col¬oured cloth wrap-around petticoat-like skirt called the 'Punachei' and the front-open blouse called the 'Kawrechi' add just the right touch to this graceful dance.

The Cheraw dance is per¬formed to drive away a spirit called 'Khawring' which is said to have a penchant for possessing women. But these days the Mizos, who were animist and are now Christians, perform the dance on ceremonial occasions. Because bam¬boos are used, it is wrongly called ‘bamboo dance’.

Cheraw calls for great al¬ertness and agility from the dancers apart from an inherent sense of rhythm. But then dance and music are a part of the lifestyle of the easy¬going Mizos. They make fine handicrafts like bas¬kets and earthen pots.

They also make an intox¬icating drink called 'Zu' which is made from rice. Until the uprising of March 1966, hardly any¬thing was known about the Mizos. Mi means 'men' and Zo means ‘hill’. Mizo meaning 'hill-men'. Their's is a casual lifes¬tyle which would have been approved by Kerouac himself. They are a patriarchal society. There is ban on a man marrying outside his clan and there is no ban on divorce.

If anyone wandering in the Mizo hill hears the rhythmic clash of bam¬boos, then he can be sure that a Cheraw dance is in progress somewhere in Mizoram.