Hmar Traditional Games & Songs

The Hmar people have their own means of recreation since time immemorial. Many of these games are played by children even to this day in villages. Only some of the most popular ones are given here.

For the boys: (1) Inrel (2) Pawi-innawk (3) Sevawma (4) Lamving, etc.

For the girls: (1) Bapuia inkap (2) Phutbaia (3) Suikapa (4) Hip-hipa (5) Fenthlia, etc

Some of the songs sung while some of the games are being played:

(1) Zawngkalera Hla:

Zawngkalera, zawngkalera.
Thing ka tan, zawnglera tan, tan tan;
Avakawl uo zuong lam uo;
Sim akawl uo zawng lam uo;
Bungpui lera, bungpui lera kan chuonga,
Phunchawng sawi din sawi dim a.
Hnapkawng uo hi rawn sei,

Sei zel zuola, ki rawn sei,
Ui-mei la tan chu tan laia,
A chunga vate ha sie chu sie laia,
Hnungpui sawn e, hmasawn e, awi e, awi e, Hnungpui sawn e,
Hmasawn e, awi e, awi e.

(2) Pipe-sainawka:

Pipe-sainawka, sainawka te changpana,
Piring parang aikawm deng;
Khaw hin am ka sie hre thei rawh,
Dikdek taka aikawm rawh.

(3) Ar sa fa naw ti nih:

Ar sa fa naw ti nih,
Arkhawng sa fa naw ti nih,

(4) Khuoi uo singa lut:

Khuoi uo singa lut a,thielthiel,
Khuoibel uo sing lut a, thielthiel.
A zu uo lo bo le luo,
Khuoino khuoi uo singa luta,
Khuoibel uo singa lut a, thielthiel;

(an inthi ding kha Lala a lo ni chun)
Lala thi pah chun,
Par arsi par sing seng.

(5) Pang uo zel dum:

Pang uo zel dum,zel dum,
Pangpui par uo, pang par uo zel dum, zel dum.

(inhnelhai chu an inziel hluma,an inziel hlum zo phat leh)
Theim insut, thiem insut a,
Thiemchalpa thiem insut e.

(6) Lut thiel thiel:

Lut thiel thiel,lut thiel thiel,
Ka sielchalpa lut thiel thiel.
Kawt lo hawng,kawt lo hawng,
Ka sielchalpa kawt lo hawng.

(7) Tira mei kaiah:

Tira mei kaiah,simtir a mei kaiah,
A nuhnung kha se rawh, lailente kha se rawh;
Tira mei kaiah, simtir a mei kaiah.

(8) Arsi tan:
Arsi tan, maikuong tan,
Tan rite ri dem dem;
Suonglung chunga belawi hna,
Belawi hnate piel piel,
Piel khat, piel hnih...piel sawm e.

(9) An nui nui banah:
An nui nui banah,
A tawng tawng banah,
Ama chu khawnbawl a thui.
Kei ka thiem dai daw.

(Laa lo innui ta sien)
Lala nu mawngah, satel kai leiluoi,
A bnu tan bawk,a pa tan bawk,
Tuisuoirieta arte mahram chiek chiek;
Dai ka kal bawr a, khawpui kan dei dup,

A tawng tawng sik hlawkah,
Thlengpui khup hnuoi thal le thei lo,
Kei ka thiem dai daw.

(10) Mi nuhai hlak:
Mi nuhai hlak, mi pahai hlak an hung zo tah a,
Fanghma tuoite an hung phur a,
Kang berei sawk, kang tliek bawk.