The Story
The Thansuohpuon represents gallantry and Valour. This particular design is used only on a person or occasion that marks outstanding feats of heroism and courage. In earlier times, it was used to appraise and hold esteem the people who breed remarkably large number of cattle(siel-sun zo), surplus foodcrop yield (buh-ai-zo) and also to glorify triumphant hunters and poachers(sa-ai-zo) who accomplished in capturing wild animals like elephant, bear, wild boars and valiant warriors(gal-ai-zo, gal-lu-lazo, hauka-tu-zo). Thansuohpuon is gifted as a memento to recognize these courageous or remarkable feats mentioned above. The men were made to drape these shawls around their body while their wives use it as a wrap around (puonchen) specially designed as women wear. Thansuohpuon comes in different shades though the base-design remains the same. The one worn by the males comes in black, red and pale yellow shades while the other thansuohpuon designed for women consisted of white, red and pale yellow colours. Both these clothes are woven on the same pattern with only the colour differences However, women also sometimes wear the other colour pattern Too.
