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Death of husband
When a woman's husband died she would perform a ceremony
(thlaichhiah).
For three lunar months she would put aside a portion of rice out of her meal for
her deceased husband (micrrhi chaw pek). After this period she would
usually return to her parents' or brother's house and perform another ceremony (thalhual)
and then return to her husband's house to look after her children.
Remarriage
Mizo custom allowed widow's remarriage which was called hmeithai pasal nei.
A divorcee was free to remarry. Different terms were used in this
respect. A nuthlawi was a woman separated from her husband by any form of
divorce. A lengleh was a woman who left her husband after spending only one
night in his house. A lusum was a widow.
The marriage price of a woman who had already been married once, would be
reduced by a thai. If however, the woman was attractive or industrious she
might get the full price. A widow with children was expected to consult
her children if they were grown up, before she would remarry. If they did
not agree she could not get married from their house but would have to get
married from her own relation's house. The children of a widow who married
again could go and live where they liked. They could continue to live with
her or could go to live with their father's relation or to their pu, maternal
grand father.
Adultery
Adultery, uire, was considered a great disgrace for women. In
case of adultery by a woman while her husband was alive, all her price had to be
refunded to the husband and he could keep her thuam or dowry and her other
properties like clothes, beads, etc. In case of adultery within three months of
her husbands death, while she was expected to leave a portion of her meal for
the deceased husband, the matter was treated as if it was adultery during the
husband's lifetime and she would also be turned out of her husband's
house. If she committed adultery after the three - month period, she could not
claim payment of the outstanding price. Her children could turn her out of the
house, but she could keep the thuam. If the children allowed her to stay
in the house, they had to pay up the balance of her price. If a woman had
no child, adultery after three months was not seriously viewed. If she did not
perform thlahual, adultery would be viewed as if the husband was alive.
In an adultery case only the woman was punishable, not the
man. He was not required to pay any compensation. If a woman was accused of
adultery and was not found guilty by the chiefs, her husband would have to take
her back at once or he would be considered to have divorced her mak.
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