Based on a decision made in the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl’s (MHIP) 20th General Assembly, the Mizoram government has sent a notice to its female employees to wear the traditional dress Puan, at least twice in a week.
MHIP is a voluntary organisation run engaged in social welfare work.
The move came as an effort to revive the traditional Mizo attire of a wrap around skirt, according to the notice.
Puan – Mizoram’s traditional attires – are a colorful set of clothes.
The men, however, do not have to follow any such rule.
According to the MHIP website, there are five kinds of Puan:
Puanchei: a wrap around skirt.
Kawrechi: the blouse generally made of cotton.
Ngotekherh: a wrap around originally meant for men but now worn by men and women alike.
Hmar am : A small hand woven cloth of hand-spun cotton and indigo dye.
Cyhna Hno: An embroidered silk cloth of the native inhabitants of Mizoram, Mara’s.
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