The Mărās (Lakher) are an ethnic group of Mizoram, India and Myanmar. They refer to themselves as "Maras".

Etymology

While the people call themselves Maras, several exonyms have formed from neighbouring tribes and clans. The Lushei clans referred to the Maras as Lakher, while the Chin named them Zo. Early British encounters named the tribes as Shendu before adopting the Lushei exonym.

History

Early Migrations

The Mara's are said to have arrived from the North and are presumed to have been pushed further south by pressure from the East. They settled originally between Leitak and Leisai before moving through several settlements and crossing the Kaladan river and establishing themselves in Phusa in the Lushai Hills. From Phusa, the Mara migrated to Beukhi, where the Siaha and Saiko Tlongsais separated and established settlements with endonymic names, namely Siaha and Serkawr. It was estimated the Mara were settled in the Lushai Hills between 300-400 years ago.