Religiosity and Attire

Gracefully pairing the tribal puan with western wear, the Sunday tradition thrives in Mizoram even as it is being de-emphasised in more cosmopolitan cultures. Mizoram lies at the southernmost tip of Northeast India--the second least populous Indian state with a predominantly Christian population. The advent of Christianity in the nineteenth century set in motion an irreversible transformation among the indigenous people there, from an ambulatory, jhumming tribe, who found no cause for opprobrium with their half-naked state of undress, to becoming a group reputed for their creativity, musical prowess and keen sense of fashion. This book is a culmination of a multidisciplinary enquiry into the influence of religiosity on the Mizoram churchgoers, how they present themselves in the context of worship and how their behaviour as consumers in the secular marketplace is influenced by their beliefs.