Mizoram football fan dies in Silchar

A Paite couple in traditional attire.

The Paite tribe belongs to the Northern Chin sub-groups of Kuki-Chin (Grierson 1967: 59) and are often referred locally as Zomi.

The Zomi literally meaning people of the hills, are found in the Chin State of Myanmar, Mizoram and Manipur states of India.

According to the local traditions, these groups pf people originated from a pit somewhere in Central China.

The Burmans are also believed to have migrated from Western China to the headwaters of the Irrawadi as the Tibetans did Clewel 1949: 194. The case or pit mentioned above is called Khuul in Paite and it means a grave or hole, literally. The Lushais call it Chhinlung and the Hmars call it Sinlung.

These days Paite tribes are spread throughout the whole world.

There is also a large Paite population in the Indian State of Mizoram. They are well integrated in the Mizo group which consist of many very similar tribes. Mizo being the predominant inclusive name for the tribes of the area, as opposite to Zomi which is preferred in Manipur and Burma. Usually people of the Paite tribe in Mizoram have the letter P before their given name which is more or less the only way to distinguish Paite-Mizo from non Paite-Mizo.

The Paites live in Churachandpur district in Southern Manipur. Along with Thadou, Vaiphei, Zou, Gangte, Hmar, Milhiem/Mirem and others they were referred to as Chin-Kuki group in the past. At present, they call themselves as Paite and affiliate to Zomi denomination.

They also believed in supreme god ‘Pathian’ and believed to have originated from a cave or Khul. Their population was 49,271, spreading over 125 villages. Folksongs and folktales related to everyday life and culture of the people are orally passed through generations. They are an educated group of tribes and participate actively in local and state politics.