Chawnglaizawn

Chawnglaizawn
Chawnglaizawn

The Chawnglaizawn is a ceremonial dance of unique kind. It may be called a funeral dance, since it is performed when the village chief or a very well-to-do person of the village dies. This custom is prevalent among the people of the Pawi tribal community. Chawnglaizawn literally means dance and jump for glory. The Pawis regard two days most important in a man’s life : the day he is born and the day he dies. It is a kind of homage the villagers pay to the dead chief who is glorified in the dance. The members of the chiefs family give pigs and fowls to the villagers as gifts, which are treated for a sumptuous feast. Earlier the dance was being performed by only one dancer. He used to carry a gun and while dancing and singing used fire shots upward occasionally. In course of time the dance changed considerably and now it is performed usually by 16 men and 16 women dancers. About five musicians provide the accompanying percussion music playing different sizes of gongs and drums.