Raymondbig: reworked structure for accuracy as per guidelines

2026-03-11T00:09:15Z

reworked structure for accuracy as per guidelines

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:39, 11 March 2026
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	{{~~original research~~\|~~date=June 2021~~}}		{{Short description\|Ethnic group of India and Myanmar}}

	{{Distinguish\|text=the [[Marra people]] of Australia}}		{{Distinguish\|text=the [[Marra people]] of Australia}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=December 2018}}
			{{Infobox ethnic group
			\| group = Mara people (Lakher)
			\| image = Mara Dress or Chyna poh.jpg
			\| image_caption =
			\| total = 42,885<ref>{{cite 2011 census of India \| id = 43014 \| name = Mizoram \| access-date = 4 October 2024 }}</ref>
			\| total_ref =
			\| total_year = 2011
			\| popplace = {{flag\|India}} ([[Mizoram]]) {{br}} {{flag\|Myanmar}} ([[Chin State]])
			\| languages = {{hlist\|[[Mara language\|Mara]]\|[[Maraic languages]]\|[[Mizo language\|Mizo]]\|[[Burmese language\|Burmese]]}}
			\| 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>
			\| related =
			\| footnotes =
			}}
			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}}

			== Ethnonyms ==
			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>

			== Geography ==
			Maraland is divided between India and Myanmar, straddling the international border.
			=== West Maraland ===
			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}}
			=== East Maraland ===
			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}}

			==== Thantlang District ====
			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}}

	~~The '''~~Mara~~''' are the native inhabitants of [[Mizoram]] in [[India]], native to [[Northeast India\|northeastern India]], primarily~~ in the ~~[[Mara Autonomous~~ District ~~Council]] of the state of [[Mizoram]]~~, ~~where they form the majority of the population. The Maras are related to [[Kuki people\|Kuki]] and [[Mizo people\|Mizos]] in India and [[Kachin people\|Kachin]]~~, [[~~Karen people\|Karen]]~~, ~~[[Shan people\|Shan]] and [[~~Chin ~~people~~\|~~Chins]] in Myanmar. Significant numbers of Maras also live in the southwestern and south-central parts of [[Chin State~~]] (~~Burma~~) ~~in [[Myanmar]] - the contiguous area of Mara area in India mostly separated by [[Kolodyne]] / [[Chhimtuipui]] / [[Beino]] river~~, ~~which forms an international boundary~~.		==== Matupi District ====
			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}}

	~~They~~ have ~~gone by~~ a ~~number of tribal names to the outside world~~. ~~The Mara were earlier known as ''Magha'', ''Miram'', ''Baungshel''~~, ~~''Maring'', ''Zyu'' or ''Zao/Zho'', ''Khuangsai''. Additionally they were known as ''Lakher''~~ by the ~~Tlaikao/[[Mizo people\|Lushai]]~~, ~~''Zochhia'' by~~ the [[~~Chin people\|Lai~~]], and ~~''Shendu'' by~~ the [[~~Khumi people\|Khumi~~]], ~~[[Dai people\|Dai]]~~, ~~[[Sho language\|Shô]]~~, [[~~Matupi, Myanmar\|Matu~~]], ~~and [[Arakanese people\|Rakhaing]] people~~. ~~The new name ''~~Mara~~'' was added to the [[List of Scheduled Tribes~~ in ~~India#Mizoram\|List of Scheduled Tribes]] in Mizoram state in 1978, replacing~~ the ~~old name~~. ~~They constitute a distinct tribal group~~ in the [[Siaha]] / [[Saiha district]] of Mizoram, while also occupying the northern part of [[Paletwa Township\|Paletwa township]] and [[Matupi Township\|Matupi township]], western and southern part of [[Thantlang Township\|Thlantlang township]], and the ~~southern part of [[Hakha Township\|Hakha township]]. They refer to themselves~~ as ~~"Maras"~~.~~<ref>Dr K. Zohra, Ph.D, An introductory notes to Mara District of South Mizoram, India.</ref>~~{{~~better source~~\|~~date~~=~~June 2021~~}}		== History ==
			=== Early migrations ===
			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.
			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}}

			== Notes ==
			{{notelist}}
	== References ==		== References ==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}

	== External links ==		== External links ==
	*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081104104805/http://chakhei.com/ Chakhei.com : The first town portal in Maraland]

			* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081104104805/http://chakhei.com/ Chakhei.com: The first town portal in Maraland]
			* [https://www.maraland.net/mara-history/ The history of the Mara people on maraland.net]
	{{Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes}}		{{Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes}}
	{{Scheduled tribes of India}}		{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
	{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}		{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
	{{Authority control}}		{{Authority control}}

	[[Category:Kuki tribes]]		[[Category:Kuki tribes]]
	[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]		[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
	[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]		[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
	[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]		[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]

			== See also ==
			* [[Mara language]]
			* [[Mara Keyboard]]

imported>Beilaitei: /* Mara people */ Fixed grammar

2021-08-20T17:57:57Z

Mara people: Fixed grammar

New page

{{original research|date=June 2021}}

{{Distinguish|text=the [[Marra people]] of Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}

The '''Mara''' are the native inhabitants of [[Mizoram]] in [[India]], native to [[Northeast India|northeastern India]], primarily in the [[Mara Autonomous District Council]] of the state of [[Mizoram]], where they form the majority of the population. The Maras are related to [[Kuki people|Kuki]] and [[Mizo people|Mizos]] in India and [[Kachin people|Kachin]], [[Karen people|Karen]], [[Shan people|Shan]] and [[Chin people|Chins]] in Myanmar. Significant numbers of Maras also live in the southwestern and south-central parts of [[Chin State]] (Burma) in [[Myanmar]] - the contiguous area of Mara area in India mostly separated by [[Kolodyne]] / [[Chhimtuipui]] / [[Beino]] river, which forms an international boundary.

They have gone by a number of tribal names to the outside world. The Mara were earlier known as ''Magha'', ''Miram'', ''Baungshel'', ''Maring'', ''Zyu'' or ''Zao/Zho'', ''Khuangsai''. Additionally they were known as ''Lakher'' by the Tlaikao/[[Mizo people|Lushai]], ''Zochhia'' by the [[Chin people|Lai]], and ''Shendu'' by the [[Khumi people|Khumi]], [[Dai people|Dai]], [[Sho language|Shô]], [[Matupi, Myanmar|Matu]], and [[Arakanese people|Rakhaing]] people. The new name ''Mara'' was added to the [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India#Mizoram|List of Scheduled Tribes]] in Mizoram state in 1978, replacing the old name. They constitute a distinct tribal group in the [[Siaha]] / [[Saiha district]] of Mizoram, while also occupying the northern part of [[Paletwa Township|Paletwa township]] and [[Matupi Township|Matupi township]], western and southern part of [[Thantlang Township|Thlantlang township]], and the southern part of [[Hakha Township|Hakha township]]. They refer to themselves as "Maras".<ref>Dr K. Zohra, Ph.D, An introductory notes to Mara District of South Mizoram, India.</ref>{{better source|date=June 2021}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081104104805/http://chakhei.com/ Chakhei.com : The first town portal in Maraland]

{{Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes}}
{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kuki tribes]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]

Mara people - Revision history

Raymondbig: reworked structure for accuracy as per guidelines

imported>Beilaitei: /* Mara people */ Fixed grammar