ECHOES OF THE SPIRIT WORLD: SUPERNATURAL HORROR IN MIZO FICTION WITH REFERENCE TO DARHLIRA’S KHAWKIL BUNGHUAI

Darhlira’s Khawkil Bunghuai is a seminal work of Mizo supernatural horror that intricately blends folklore, ritual, and cosmology into a narrative of fear and cultural reflection. This study examines how the novel constructs its supernatural world, particularly through scenes such as the huai of the banyan tree, responsible for mysterious occurrences including the disappearance of a child. These episodes portray spirits as active agents influencing human behavior, moral order, and communal memory. By situating supernatural events within familiar village landscapes and liminal spaces, Darhlira immerses readers in a universe where life and death, the human and the otherworldly, coexist in uneasy tension. The article analyzes the literary techniques used to evoke horror, including manipulation of atmosphere, light and darkness, temporal perception, and narrative ambiguity. The study demonstrates that horror in Khawkil Bunghuai emerges not only from supernatural phenomena but also from their integration into cultural, moral, and social systems. Ultimately, the novel exemplifies how indigenous horror traditions can articulate local anxieties while engaging broader literary discourses, offering insight into the cultural mediation of fear and the narrative possibilities of the supernatural.