ZO CULTURAL DANCES

Some of the Zo Cultural Dances items are:-
1. Saguol kêngkâi-Phîtlâm
2. Dâilâm
3. Tâng-ai la
4. Zângta la and Zângta lâm
5. Lalêh

1. Saguol kêngkâi-Phîtlâm is performed using bamboo flute to synchronise the dance steps in a circular formation during the Feast of Plenty(Tâng-ai) and Feast of Boasting(Ton).

Saguol kêngkâi dance style is believed to have been taken from the dances of the wild boars: Saguolte.

2. Dâilâm is a dance style performed by singing a boasting song while a dame and a lad dance gracefully in the middle of the dancing troupe. It is performed during the occassions of Tâng-ai(Festival of bountiful Harvest),and Sa-ai(Feast of Bravery).

3. Tâng-ai la is usually sung by the sisters of the Host; the man who throws the Feast of bountiful Harvest of Paddy and millet(Tâng-ai). Here,in this song the sisters and relatives of the host sing proudly about the abundance of food and drinks in their brother’s house during the feast and the host sings to invite them.

Thei bang sênlâi cîn leh tuoi aw

a) Thei bang sênlâi cîn leh tuoi aw,

Ka zuo hânmin sumtuoldaw nientui aw e.

b) Sumtuoldaw nien nunnuom lâi ah,

Lienu ka buolna hi e.

4. Zângta la and Zângta lâm.

In this Zângta la and Zângta lâm the main theme is that all of us are of same descent originating from KHÛL(Stone Cave) and that we are brothers and sisters of the same Mother; Progenitor. This reminds us that we are one and the same people.

1. Eiteng khawlkhawm a tuom om lou,

Vânnuoi ci peu Khul a pieng,

Tun sung khat pan pieng hi ngeingei hang e.

2. Tun sung khat pang pieng hi ngeingei

Suopi sanggam laigui zom khawm hi ngeingei hang e.

5. Lalêh: Lalêh is a type of song which conveys the childhood pranks,romance and joy of youth. Here the boys and girls sing joyfully remembering their childhood wanderings their youthful romances and the good times they spent together in their village during the Feast of Ton,Feast of Bravery(Sa-ai). Khodou Pawi (Community Feast). It is often sung under the full moonlit nights with lively dances in circular formation drinking the liquor; ZU provided by the host.

The Girls Dress: The dress worn by the girls are designed from the Puondum the traditional shawl of the community. The wrap-around is called Zo Níh. The conical caps or headgears worn by them are made of antelope’s skin with special technique using paddy pounding timber mortar. It is called Sakhi Lukhu that is Deer hood/cap/ It is one of the prized cultural items of the Zo Community.

The Boys Dress: The boys wear traditionally designed long garments called Zo Puon. Here,we can see a warrior carrying the muzzle-loading gun called Zothâu, gunpowder casket made from the horn of the wild bison; Zângsiel Kî and a leather bag made of wild animal skin. The horn-bill feathers; vaphuol gie worn on their head is a precious gift from the host to his close friends and relatives. The flowery design on the head of the host and others are gifted by their sisters to honor him on the Feast of Boasting and Feast of bountiful Harvest. They are called Tuhpâl.