Nestled within scenic mountains and lush green forests, the state of Mizoram in the North-Eastern region of India, hosts a treasure trove of cultural heritage. Since time immemorial, the people of Mizoram have nurtured customs and habits that represent a distinct world-view.
This is a story from that land of Mizoram…
A Mizo Folktale
Mizo forefathers and mothers believe that after death, the spirit of the dead has to cross the river called Rih to reach the Village of the Dead. Many tales have been weaved about how the dead cross the Rih river. One such tale goes like this…
Long ago, many animals used to come on the banks of Rih river to drink water. So, hunters used to gather at night for hunting. At one time, a group of friends came there to hunt. They built a shelter for the night and began to have a sleepover.
After night fell and it became very quiet, they heard the sounds of footsteps and voices. They also felt that there was a female voice too. They were taken by surprise because they did not know of any village nearby, and the area was covered with dense forest.
However, the sound of voices became more audible. They seem to come closer and closer. One of the men even thought that he heard the voice of his wife and he was surprised.
One voice called out loudly, “E! So, you have also come along?”
The female voice replied, “Yes, I came suddenly and I did not even have time to tell my children anything. I wonder if they will find the bananas inside the basket that I have left for ripening above the fireplace and the dried meat I had put: inside the pot. Their father has gone away hunting, and they will not even have any good thing to eat with their rice.”
The man was certain it was the voice of his wife. He said, “Very well, I am going to wait and catch hold of her”.
He went out of the shelter and waited. It was so dark that he could not see anything though he had the feeling that many people were passing by him but could not recognize their voices. When the one whose voice was exactly of his wife’s passed by, he caught hold of her and hugged her tightly.
“I know that you are my wife. How can you leave me while I am away? Our children must be alone and frightened. You cannot go. I will not allow you to!” he exclaimed in determination.
His wife replied, “Let me go! You cannot stop me. My time has come, I have to go. Let me go.”
The husband held on to her tighter and refused to let her go.
The wife in desperation said, “Let me go. My friends will leave me behind and go out of sight.”
Saying thus, she turned into a glowworm and slipped out of his fingers.
The next day the man went home in a great hurry. Reaching home he realized that his wife had really died and last night he met her on the Pathway of the Dead.
It is believed in Mizoram that when people die, even after crossing the Rih river, they miss and long for the land of the living and their Iives in their respective villages. As the dead ones walk the Pathway of the Dead, along the way is a mountain to be climbed that is called Hringtlang. When the dead ones reach the top of this mountain, they can view the land of the living very clearly. The spirits of the dead then take a good view from this peak and view their respective villages and their respective homes where they had spent their lifetime. They are then filled with nostalgia and longing for their homes and villages and tears rain down from their eyes as they view their homes and villages.
However, on the top of the mountain there are two unusual things. One is a beautiful flower called Hawilopar. As they look around filled with loneliness and nostalgia, their eyes catch hold of this beautiful flower. It is said that the flower is so beautiful that the dead ones are compelled to pluck the flower wishing to adorn their heads. As they pick the flower and adorn their heads they never want to turn back again and so can determinately proceed on their way.
The other unusual thing on top of this mountain is a spring with very clear water. The water is said to be so clear that the dead ones are tempted to drink it. No one can pass by without being tempted to drink the water and ultimately drink it. Once they drink the water they forget everything, and they forget their past life. Thus, they long to reach the Village of the Dead quickly; and happily they set on their way. The clear water spring is called Lungloh.
Many old communities still do not have a very difficult relationship with death. Unlike our modern society in which death is viewed with terror and considered a tremendous blow to our reality, many old cultures seem to have a more natural and beautiful perspective towards death. They see the dead ones amidst beautiful flowers of peace and clear water of soul renewal.