PUANDUM stands for a dark black cloth according to the meaning of the word in ‘PAITE’ language (‘DUM’ means black and ‘PUAN’ means cloth). The ‘Puan’ may have a dark black background but it has invariably multi-coloured bards along the length. The various colours used here are black, Green, Yellow, Red, White etc. The whole surface is covered with such bards of different breadth interspaced between fairly broad black background which also look like bards in the overall appearance. Even though simple in respect of intricacy in design, this ‘PUANDUM’ is highly colourful and exhibit great artistic talent in the weave. PUANDUM has a very deep cultural significance and is infact the most important traditional cloth among the ‘PAITES’. It is only used on important occasions like Religious ceremonies, marriages and other important festivals and almost all the ‘Puandums’ of different Tribes of Zomis have basically a dark black background with multi-coloured yarns. The basic difference of the ‘Puandums’ is the difference in arranging the multi-coloured warps of the yarn.

The ‘Paite Puandum’ has a very deep significance and it is indeed one of these few traditional ‘Puans’ which still retains its cultural hallow to a very large extend even today. A Paite girl at the time of marriage has to take atleast one ‘Puandum’ with her to her husband’s house. The possession of the ‘Puandum’ by the newly married girl was so conceived as it was culturally linked with one of her sacred duties, namely:- to provide a distinctive cover for the dead body of her husband if by chance he meet his death during her lifetime. It could also be used to cover the dead bodies of her relatives.

The ‘Puandum’ finds a variety of other uses too. It makes a highly appreciative present to a close friend as a token of love and care.It is also used both by gents and ladies in their traditional dances such as ‘Jangtalaam’ ‘Phitlaam’ etc. the ladies wearing it to cover the lower part of the body starting from the waist upto the knee. It is used by mourners when they go to visit a bereaved family or when they carry a dead body to the graveyard.The ‘Paite Puandum’ is woven mainly with cotton and acrylic fabrics as a Lungi or Shawl.

@Extract from a Joint Project Report on “Importance of Loin Loom products and their developments on improved Handlooms” by K.Kamkhanlal & Nancy Nemngaihvung for the Award of Diploma in Handloom Technology(1988-89) at IIHT, Guwahati.

NB: Imphal Daily News ‘Huyen Lanpao’ dated 18th Feb.2012 issue ah Comm.& Industries Dept.in Paite Nampuan te asuahna uah,Puan 12(twelve) chauh gelh ua,tuate leng gelh diklou zawmah uh.. “..Puandum, paite puandum(modified), puanhlaisen, B.A puandum, gungal puan, lianbngthuam, malam, kheaupheau , ngotekherh, mar-aam niik, aksipak…” chih khawngin gelh bialbual uh.

Hiai toh kisai correction (bawldikna) leh addition (behlap) utte a dingin 15th March, 2012 tan hunpia uh.Hiaibang liim-liam ahihna ah, ei Paite kampau laka Organisation/Association etc omte pilvang a, ahunchiam beima a sukdikna leh behlap ding tamtak omte va behlap omthei lehang chihhuai mahmah.

Hiaitoh kisai thuchian (9436026377/9862779420) ah kantheih ding. K. Kamkhanlal