https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mara_peopleMara people - Revision history2026-07-31T17:53:39ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Mara_people&diff=457931&oldid=prevRaymondbig at 00:09, 11 March 20262026-03-11T00:09:15Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Ethnic group of India and Myanmar}}<br />
{{Distinguish|text=the [[Marra people]] of Australia}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox ethnic group<br />
| group = Mara people (Lakher)<br />
| image = Mara Dress or Chyna poh.jpg<br />
| image_caption =<br />
| total = 42,885<ref>{{cite 2011 census of India | id = 43014 | name = Mizoram | access-date = 4 October 2024 }}</ref><br />
| total_ref = <br />
| total_year = 2011<br />
| popplace = {{flag|India}} ([[Mizoram]]) {{br}} {{flag|Myanmar}} ([[Chin State]])<br />
| languages = {{hlist|[[Mara language|Mara]]|[[Maraic languages]]|[[Mizo language|Mizo]]|[[Burmese language|Burmese]]}}<br />
| religions =[[File:Christian cross.svg|12px]] [[Christianity]]<ref>Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Population Census 2011. Table ST-14: Scheduled tribe population by religious community (State/UT level), Mizoram - 2011</ref><br />
| related =<br />
| footnotes =<br />
}}<br />
The '''Mara''' ({{Langx|mrh|Mara}}, {{IPA|mrh|mərà|pron}}; {{Langx|my|မရာ}}, {{IPA|my|mərà|pron}}), also historically known as ''Lakher'', are an ethnic group native to [[Mizoram]], [[India]], and [[Chin State]], [[Myanmar]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Zohra |first=K. |title=An Introductory Notes to Mara District of South Mizoram, India |publisher= |year= |location= |language=English }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2021}}<br />
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== Ethnonyms ==<br />
While the community refers to themselves as '''Mara''', various exonyms have been used by neighboring tribes and colonial authorities. The [[Lusei people|Lushei]] referred to them as ''Lakher''. Early British records called them ''Shendu'' before adopting the Lushei term.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shakespear |first=John |date=1912 |title=The Lushei Kuki Clans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNUKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA2 |location=London |publisher=Macmillan and Company, limited |page=213}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Parry |first1=N.E |last2=Hutton |first2=J.E |date=1932 |title=The Lakhers |url=https://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/cultures/ar20/documents/001 |location=London |publisher=Macmillan & Co, Limited |page=1}}</ref> They were also called "Yo" (Zo) by the British, presumably learned from the Lai. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Tuck |first=H. N. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.41732 |title=The Chin Hills Vol. 1 |date=1896}}</ref><br />
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== Geography ==<br />
Maraland is divided between India and Myanmar, straddling the international border.<br />
=== West Maraland ===<br />
West Maraland lies in [[Mizoram]], India. It constitutes a distinct administrative region with its own [[Siaha district]] and enjoys autonomy through the [[Mara Autonomous District Council]].{{cn|date=November 2025}}<br />
=== East Maraland ===<br />
East Maraland is located in [[Chin State]], Myanmar. It is divided into two main districts: [[Thantlang Township|Thantlang District]] (locally known as "Chha Mara") and [[Matupi Township|Matupi District]] ("Fei Mara").{{cn|date=November 2025}}<br />
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==== Thantlang District ====<br />
There are 9 Mara villages in the Thantlang District: Locheipi (Lungcawipi), Locheita (Luncawite), Ngephepi (Ngaphaipi), Ngepheta (Ngaphaite), Lodao (Inhmunpi), Meisakotla (Fartlang), Khipilu (Khuapilu), Lelai (Lailen) and La-ao (Lau).{{cn|date=November 2025}}<br />
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==== Matupi District ====<br />
There are several more Mara villages in the Matupi District, namely: Lochei (Luncawi), [[Darling, Chin State|Dawlei (Darling)]], Sabyta (Sabongte), Sabypi (Sabongpi), Lialaipi (Lailenpi), Lialaita (Lailente), Sosai (Sungsen), Poitia (Pintia), and many more.{{cn|date=November 2025}}<br />
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== History ==<br />
=== Early migrations ===<br />
The Mara people are believed to have migrated from the north{{Clarify|reason=Where in the north? How far in the north? Name of a specific country or region would help.|date=September 2025}}, driven southward by pressure from the east. They initially settled between Leitak and Leisai, eventually crossing the [[Kaladan River]] and establishing a settlement in Phusa in the [[Lushai Hills]]. From Phusa, they moved to Beukhi, where two subgroups—the Siaha and Saiko Tlongsais—emerged, each establishing new settlements named [[Siaha]] and Serkawr, respectively.<br />
It is estimated that the Mara have been settled in the Lushai Hills for approximately 300 to 400 years.{{efn|Parry's book was published in 1924 and referred to the migration as occurring 200–300 years prior.}}{{sfn|Parry|Hutton|1932|p=2}}<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081104104805/http://chakhei.com/ Chakhei.com: The first town portal in Maraland]<br />
* [https://www.maraland.net/mara-history/ The history of the Mara people on maraland.net]<br />
{{Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes}}<br />
{{Scheduled tribes of India}}<br />
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
[[Category:Kuki tribes]]<br />
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]<br />
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]<br />
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Mara language]]<br />
* [[Mara Keyboard]]</div>Raymondbig