Zotung people

The Zotung believed in Pachia (Pathian) as the supreme God. They also believed evil entities, known as Khozi (Khuazing), roamed around world. Khozis caused great mischief and would cause a person to be in a state of hnam. They appeased to the various Khozi through the high priests for their health, wealth, safety and the prosperity of the land through Khuarum services. However, they did not sacrifice to Pachia because he was believed to not cause harm or wickedness to humans. In recent years the believe in Khozi have slowly begun to vanished as more people convert to Christianity.

The Zotung believed those that died as commoners went to Mitchi Khua, literally abode of the dead. Inside Mitchi Khua, there were two divisions. The first is Pucchi (Pulthi) where those that died a normal, non violent death went. Pucchi deaths were followed by village wide feasts and drinking. It was mourned by all the people and lasted 3 to 5 days. The other death is Sawchi (Sarthi) where those that died a violent, supernatural death or from a disease were categorized as. The relatives of the Sawchi were considered potentially dangerous and were avoided. The Sawchi corpse was immediately buried and no rites were performed. Only the closest of relatives were allowed to attend burial. When the Sawchi burial was over, the family killed a hen. They placed the blood of the hen and mixed in maize. They cried

Ka tungvaw’ e Sawsi hin uiccopi chite aemen, naedi thy te vaedi nih pon thiangsa ula, Khuanipi nih cawkhae sala!

Oh! The sickness inside me, be cleansed from the blood of the cock and maize. Let the sun set you also.

Counting forth from that day, they stayed isolated for 7 days then were they considered clean.

On the other hand, those that died an honourable death such as through battle, through death rites or hosted a great festival went to Hotheng. Though Mitchi Khua is less desired, it was not a place for eternal punishment but simply a permanent place for the dead to reside. Hotheng was a place for the ones with great wealth and riches. They feasted eternally and enjoyed themselves.

Between the three human realms was Lunglei Mual or Lunglei Hill. This was the check point for all the deceased. There lived the goddess Sawnnung that ruled over the realms. She led the dead to their rightful place. But first Sawnnung took the dead to a lake known as Rih Tui to drink from the lake. The water from Rih Tui was special. It made all that drank from it forget about their previous life so that they live happily in their new realm.

When the western missionaries entered Zoram, these people converted to Christianity starting around the 1900s.

The Zotungs wore clothes like other Zo groups. For daily life, the men wore Angi (a cotton shirt), Boui (a large shawl), or were wrapped in fur. For special occasions the men were clothed with feathers, Cawnnak Boui, colourful Bouis, and jewellery. Women wore the Burmese longyi either with traditional patterns or plain ones. They also wore Angi and Boui.