If you travel 17 miles from NamKham in Muse District, Northern Shan State to over 6,000 feet high mountain ranges, you will get to Pan-Say region which is a cozy heaven for Kho-Hlon-Lishaw nationals.

Let’s see how Kho-Hlon-Lishaws live in Takont village in Pan-Say region and welcome the guests who visit their village. The entertained them with their traditional Takor dance.

Kho-Hlon-Lishaws derive from Lisu national race. It is very interesting to identify whether a Lishaw woman is married or single. The one who puts on black headwear is married and a lady whose headwear has hanging silver string is single.

If you proceed from Takont village, you will arrive Pan-Say Village, which is situated 6,025 feet above sea level and has a population of over 3,000. They earn their living by growing potato, maize and wheat and rising goats, pigs and poultry.

This traditional house of Kho-Hlon-Lishaws is 200 years old. When Lishaw men go to farm, ladies have to do housework. They also prepare food for pigs by pounding maize or make pig-broth.

Most Lishaws are Buddhists. The young family members look after the aged grandparents and they live unitedly. Their ages can be estimated by their attire. Singles are marked by red armband, the married young women are by violet and over 60 years old are by dark brown.

Now you are viewing the traditional Takor bonfire dance, which is joyously performed on auspicious occasions like wedding reception and house warming ceremonies. People of all walks of life can enjoy the dance and villagers who are not only from the same village, but also from other nearby villages can participate in this dance.

They all wish for the well being of the region and therefore there are more ties among the villages. Traditional Takor dance festival takes about a day and a night and sometimes up to 3 days.

We share our knowledge on the traditional culture and custom of Kho-Hlon-Lishaw nationals in Pan-Say region in Northeast of Myanmar who preserve their unique way of living till to date.