Mizo Sarlamkai (Sarlamkai)

Understand

Where Mizo Sarlamkai (Sarlamkai) comes from

Sarlamkai is the Mizo men's stick-dance, performed at the harvest and at the cultural festivals of the Mizo community. The dance is one of the documented regional dance traditions of Mizoram, performed by the men of the village in coordinated formations with the small stick. The dance is associated with the harvest celebration and with the community-festival of the Mizo people. The form is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the state and at the regional Mizo celebrations.

How it's practiced

Sarlamkai is performed by groups of men of the Mizo community in a circle at the central courtyard of the village or at the open ground of the festival. The men dance in coordinated steps with the small stick in their hands, striking the stick against partners' sticks in rhythmic patterns. The dance is energetic, with the men's small jumps and the small turning of the Mizo tradition. Music is the khuang (drum) and the darbu (gong), with the small cymbals. Costume is the everyday Mizo dress — the puandum and the small regional cap. Performances are at the courtyard and at the cultural programmes of the state.