Subgroups of Lahu
The Lahu hill tribe group has five sub-groups: Red Lahu, Yellow Lahu, Black Lahu, White Lahu and Lahu Sheleh. The Black Lahu is the largest sub-group, making up close to 80 per cent of the Lahu population.
Lahu Religion
The traditional religion of the Lahu hill tribe is polytheistic. Buddhism was introduced in the late 17th century and became widespread.
Culture and lifestyle
The Lahu hill tribe women wear very distinctive black and red jackets and skirts and the men wear baggy green or blue pants. They have a reputation as excellent hunters, and survive off vegetable cultivation, with some supplementing this meagre income with opium production.
Although primarily subsistence farmers, growing rice and corn for their own consumption, the Lahu hill tribe people are also proud of their hunter-warrior heritage. They remain a strict, serious people governed by strong principles of right and wrong. Every individual in the village answers to the common will of the elders. While less importance is placed on the extended family than in other hilltribe communities, the Lahu are still strongly committed to principles of unity and working together for survival. Lahu hill tribe people may have the most gender-equitable society in the world.
Important festivals
The major communal festival of the Lahu hill tribe marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, while the Festival of Eating the New Rice is also important. Christmas is an important festival among Lahu who are Christians.
Lahu in Green Trails programs
Lahu villages feature in the program private trekking in Chiang Dao.