Hornbill Festival KISAMA HERITAGE VILLAGE
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KOHIMA
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NAGALAND
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We would like to express our gratitude to the many people who saw us through this document of Visual Culture and those who provided support, shared their knowledge, read, wrote and offered their comments. We would like to thank Mona Prabhu for guiding us as we compiled this document. Our gratitude towards all the people of the Naga community who were open to show their culture and share traditions with us. Last but not the least, we would like to thank Mr. Bhogal for accomodating us and for his impecable hospitality. And to all the friends we made along the way. This was a great adventure and a learning experience for us.
Thank you.
Documentation of visual culture Hornbill Festival Sweta Bhardwaj Ritu Kumari 3 rd year, semester 6 GDUG14
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CONTENT Introduction Geography Hornbill Music Festival Kohima Night Carnival Tribes Morung Conclusion Bibliography
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he state of Nagaland is home to several tribes, which have their own distinct festivals. More than 60% of the population of Nagaland depends on agriculture and therefore most of their festivals revolve around agriculture. The Nagas consider their festivals sacred and so participation in these festivals is essential.
GEOGRAPHY Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga hills rise from the Bhramaputra valley in Assam to about 2,000 feet and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet. The capital of this state is Kohima and the largest and most developed city is Dimapur. The state is still lacking in connectivity.
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agaland has a largely monsoon climate with high humidity levels. Annual rainfall averages around 70–100 inches, concentrated in the months of May to September. Temperatures range from 70°F to 104 °F. In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 39°F, but frost is common at high elevations. The state enjoys a salubrious climate. Summer is the shortest season in the state that lasts for only a few months. The temperature during the summer season remains between 16 °C to 31 °C. Winter makes an early arrival and bitter cold and dry weather strikes certain regions of the state. The maximum average temperature recorded in the winter season is 24 °C. Strong northwest winds blow across the state during the months of February and March.
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bout one-sixth of Nagaland is covered by tropical and subtropical evergreen forests— including palms, bamboo, rattan as well as timber and mahogany forests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum cultivation, many scrub forests, high grass, reeds; secondary dogs, pangolins, porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar, harts, oxen, and buffaloes thrive across the state’s forests. The great indian hornbill is one of the most famous birds found in the state. Blyth’s tragopan, a vulnerable
species of pheasant, is the state bird of Nagaland To encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December. The first festival was held in the year 2000. The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes.. Mithun (a semi domesticated gaur) found only in the north-eastern states of India, is the state animal of Mithun
Hornbill bird in flight
Nagaland and has been adopted as the official seal of the Government of Nagaland. It is ritually the most valued species in the state. Several preliminary studies indicate significant recoverable reserves of petroleum and natural gas.
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o encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December. The first festival was held in the year 2000. The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in folklore in most of the state’s tribes.
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unique and enthralling experience from the land of blue rolling hills of Nagaland – Hornbill Festival in Kohima, beckons you. Situated at an elevation of 1261
fantastic momos and rice beer – a colourful cornucopia of all things Nagaland and North-East India. There is no dearth of options for immersing yourself in the Naga handloom and
metres is the beautiful Kisama Valley exhibiting the assemblage of 17 tribes of Nagaland in the first week of December every year. From local beverages and exciting cuisine, display of assorted traditional Naga culture in the form of dance and competition, a heritage motor car rally, Naga wrestling, a pork-fat greased pole climbing contest, great public art,
handicrafts in Kisama Village and night market in Kohima town. It’s photography unlimited at Hornbill Festival and beyond at the exotic locations in North-East India.
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n the evenings a programme of music concerts, catering for all tastes, ensure that the festive spirit continues through the night. One of the major highlights of this festival is the Hornbill International Rock Festival that is held at Indira Gandhi Stadium and local and international rock bands perform here. This is a direct reflection of the rich music culture in Nagaland. At the rock
night events such as the Beat box competition, comic con, the rock band competition took place. Even artists like KK and Vineet Vincent graced this event with their performances. The crowed wasn’t expected at all. We didn’t just find young adults there but had a mixed crowed of all age groups. Even the performances were from all age groups. 18
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The annual Hornbill Night Carnival in Kohima commences from December 1 till 10 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily as part of the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. The objective of the carnival is to promote young upcoming local entrepreneurs comprising mostly educated unemployed youth. The
Carnival also hosts good number of participants representing different SHGs, NGOs, churches, colleges and similar institutes, selling wares ranging from toys, party pieces, handlooms, handicraft and varieties of local products seeking to raise funds. Food stalls are also be there. 20
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Human heads symbolise power and pride of the warrior. Real heads were Displayed initially.
Circular motifs represent cosmology elements.
Tiger teeth kept as a trophy symbolising strength.
Mithun’s head act as a symbol of prosperity and wealth of the tribesmen. Carvings on gates and Morungs symbolised the collective habitat such as mithun’s head for wealth and fishes their staple food.
Morung The morung, or youths dormitory, is typically a huge buildings which physically dominates a naga village, resplendent with carvings representing hornbills, tigers, mithan (bison) and human heads and sometimes with projecting barge boards resembling wings or horns. sociologically it is a key institution of naga society, though its importance varies between the different groups. The morung fulfils various functions. It is a sleeping place for the young unmarried men and in former raiding days it served as a guard house for the warriors. It is in some senses a school, since young people learn about social practices and belief from their elders. Membership of a morung may
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Wooden carving of women breast to symbolise fertility of the tribe.
Left top: Hand crafted wind chime used to indicate weather and wind direction Left bottom: Preserving seeds of different edible plants. Above: Skull of an animal symbolising prosperity and wealth of the tribesmen.
Kitchen: spices, huge containers for storing grains, utensile, etc
determine choice of marriage partner, for it is usually forbidden to marry within the morung, and reciprocal relations are therefore built up with other morungs, from whom a marriage partner is chosen. Such reciprocal relations would also involve helping with the rebuilding the morung. The area around the morung is a social centre for for the khel, also a centre for important rituals, especially where it is strongly associated with log-gong, a huge gong fashioned out of a single
tree trunk. In days of heads taking, a captured head would be brought to the Morung or its log gong, where the necessary rituals would then be performed. Morungs are often more or less autonomous and are managed by a council of morung elders, even conducting their own political relations with the villages’ morungs. These morung elders would then meet together to form a village council.
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Head gear made of bear fur. This basic conical design is Kalyokengyu, but the variations are worn by diverse groups.
Conch shell ear ornaments with
Wild bore tusks used as ornamentation.
porker-work decoration.
Denotes status gained through feasting and warfare.
Spear decorated with tufts of dyed goat hair. Arm bands made out of wild elephant ivory. Its a highly desired ornament obtained through
Neck ornaments composed of
head-taking or feasting.
tiger’s teeth, brass spirals, boar’s tusks, beads, beetle wings, quills,
A head hunters necklace made of brass. The
cane work, and pangolin claws.
number of heads in the necklace denotes the heads taken by that person.
Body cloth from men who have taken heads.
Men’s loin cloth decorated with cowrie shells.
Ornaments made out of bamboo for the legs. Important member of the Chang Tribe.
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hostile villages and taking heads. Since 1879, when the British succeeded in annexing their territory, the intervillage feuds have come to an end. With the introduction of Christianity in the region several Angamis changed their faith to Christianity. The Sekrenyi festival of the angami tribe falls on the 25th day of the angami months of Kezei. It is a celebration of purification accompanied with feasting and singing. Highlight of Sekrenyi is the Thekra Hie, when the village youths gathers and croon traditional songs throughout the day.
The Angami district: kohima Main Festival: Sekrenyi Date: feb 25-27 The Angamis are a major Naga tribe native to Nagaland state in North-East India. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe, in the 5th schedule of the Indian Constitution. They are known for the Sekrenyi celebrations every February.
The Angami Nagas are hill people depending basically on cultivation and livestock-rearing. The Angamis are known for terraced wet-rice cultivation; because of this laborintensive cultivation, land is the most important form of property among them. Angamis were traditionally warriors. The Angami men spent the majority of their time in warfare with 28 29
The Rengma District: kohima Main Festival: Ngada Date: november 27-28 According to the local traditions, the Rengmas and the Lothas (or Lhotas) were once part of a single tribe. Slavery used to be a practice among the Rengmas, and the slaves were known by the names menugetenyu and itsakesa. The Rengmas are experts in terrace cultivation. The traditional Rengma clothing consists of various types of clothes, which are indicative of the status and position of the weavers. A man who has not been able to offer a great feast, or has never killed an enemy, may wear an ordinary type of cloth called rhikho.
Alungtsu is a cloth for well-to-do men, who have not yet offered a great feast. Teri Phiketsu is a shawl, which requires the wearer to perform the head hunting ceremony. The rengamas commemorate the nada festival for eight days after the harvest. It is the festival of thanksgiving and rejoicing. Naga also underscores the end of the agriculture year. The village high priest (Phensengru) heralds the beginning of the festival at the top of his voice, so that the villagers can prepare themselves for it.
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The Zeliang district: peren Main Festival: hega Date: feb 10-15 Zeliangrong people are one of the major indigenous Naga communities living in the tri-junction of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland in India. The term “Zeliangrong� refers to the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei Naga tribes combined together. The Zeliangrong are formed of three tribes, namely, the zemei, the Liangmei and the rongmei and the name Zeliangrong is derived from the first few syllables of these three individual tribes. Hega,
their matrimonial festival, is dedicated to the almighty. Beside seeking his protection and guidance, during Hega the Zeliangs invoke god to bless his people with wealth, luck and courage. This is considered as an auspicious time for young couples to tie the nuptial knot. The festival begins with a variety of programmes and merrymaking.
The Zeliang traditional male dresses are named as Injingni, Heni, Mopahai, Lauhepai, Khampefai etc. The young boys decorate their legs with rice powder paste and tie cane ropes just below the knee. The girls wear Mini Hegiangnine, Faimang, Faitik, Limfai and ornaments made of silver, brass and colourful earlobes. 32
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The Chang According to oral tradition, the Changs emerged from a place called Changsangmongko, and later settled at Changsang. The word Chang is said to have been derived the word chognu (banyantree), after a mythical banyan tree that grew at the now abandoned Changsang. The Chang, like several other Naga tribes, practiced headhunting in the pre-British era. The person with maximum number of hunted heads was given the position of lakbou (chief), who would settle the village disputes. He was entitled to maintain special decorative marks in his house, and to wear special ceremonial dress during the festivals.
The Changs speak the Chang language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family.Naknyu Lem is the major traditional festival of the Changs. According to the Chang mythology, the ancient people had to remain inside their homes for six days due to extreme darkness. Naknyu Lem is held to celebrate the light on the seventh day.Agriculture is the traditional occupation of the tribe, and jhum cultivation is practiced. Rice, millets, Job's Tears, pulses and vegetables are the main crops. Trade and business were practiced mainly as subsidiary occupations.
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The Chakhesangs
The men folk purify themselves by bathing in a designated well where no women are allowed. After bathing they invoke the almighty for strength, long life, good harvest etc. During Sukrunyi, considered as the most important festival, the boys and the girls are consecrated through religious ceremonies and rituals.
Chakhesangs are the former Eastern Angami, who have separated from the Angami Naga tribe, and are now recognized as a separate tribe. It is a major tribe in Nagaland. Most of the villages of this tribes falls under the Phek District and Pfutsero, Chozuba sub-division of Nagaland. The tribe is basically divided into two groups known as “Chokri” and “Khezha”. A new year of activities begins with the arrival of spring; all activities related to sports and entertainment that began after the harvest, cease along with the Tsukhenye Festival. this festival last For four days on the first morning, the village priest sacrifices the first rooster that crows. Women of the chakhesang tribe sitting in circle and having rice beer
Smoke pork hanging above the fire in the chakhesang morung 36
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The Ao The Aos are one of the major Naga tribes of Nagaland, Northeast India mostly in the central Mokokchung District. They were the first Naga tribe to embrace Christianity and by virtue of this development the Aos availed themselves to Western education that came along with Christianity . In the process the Aos became the pioneering tribe among the Nagas in many fields. Moatsü is celebrated in the first week of May every year. Various rituals are
performed during this period. The Aos observe Moatsü Mong after the sowing is done. The festival provides them a period of recreation and entertainment after the stressful work of clearing fields, burning jungles, sowing seeds, cleaning up the Tsubu (wells) and repairs and construction of houses by elders of the Putu Menden, stretching over a week. The Moatsü festival is marked by peppy songs and dances.
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negotiated peace. The Pochurys were dependent on agriculture and animal husbandry. Hunting, forest produce and fishing were the major subsidiary occupations. The Pochurys mainly practised jhum cultivation (slashand-burn) For cattle trading, mithun and other cattle were procured from
The Pochury
Young college students dressed up in their tribe’s complete attire for the folk dance
Pochury is a Naga tribe of Nagaland, India. The tribe’s native territory is located in the eastern part of the Phek district. The Word Pochury is an acronym formed by the names of three native villages of these tribes: Sapo, Kechuri and Khury. According to the Pochuri legends, these villages fought battles against each others, but united into a single tribe after their elders
Burma. The trade was based on barter system, which worked well because the different villages specialized in different areas. Yemshi is an annual traditional festival celebrated by all the Pochuri communities. It is a harvesting festival and people rejoice the fruit of their hard work as a bountiful of crops. No agricultural work is done before the completion of the festival and people take rest to get prepared for the next cultivation.
Storage for keeping grains, herbs and spices 2
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The Konyak The Konyak are a Naga people, and are
used tattoos to indicate status just as
recognised among other Naga by their tattoos, which they have all over their face and hands; facial tattoos were earned for taking an enemy’s head. They are called the land of Angh’s. They have the largest population among the Nagas. The Konyak’s festival “Aoleang” falls in the month of April from 1 to 6. Aoleang is the biggest festival for the Konyak. The Konyaks hunted human skulls because they believed only these could guarantee the fertility of their fields and people. This belief has not ended but today the skulls have generally been substituted by wooden heads, and the rituals still persist. Konyaks people
other people might use ornaments or textiles. For example, Konyak Naga girls wore a tattoo on the back of the knee if they were married, as in Western cultures a finger-ring usually makes this statement. The chest tattoo is another typical traditional tattoo, which was a high social privilege and could only be worn by the best and bravest warriors of all, which make the few still alive even more difficult to meet. Konyak were the first of those group who made guns just by looking at Britisher’ s guns. Because of insecurity Britisher introduced them to opium.
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The Phom Phom is a Naga tribe from Nagaland, India. Their traditional territory lies between the territories of Konyak in the north-east, the Ao in the west and the Chang in the south. Yongnyah is the largest Phom village. Agriculture is the traditional occupation of the Phoms, and the tribe practices jhum cultivation. The Phoms also have a tradition of pottery, bamboo work and spinning. The origin of the Phoms, like that of other Naga tribes, is uncertain. One oral tradition of the Phoms, like that of the Ao Nagas, states that their ancestors originated from stones. Monyu is the most important traditional festival of the
Phoms. It is a 12-day festival, which marks the end of winter and onset of summer (usually 1-6 April). The festival involves community feasting, dancing, singing and social work (such as repairs and construction of bridges). During the festival, the men present their married daughters or sisters with pure rice beer and special food to show their affection and respect. One or two days before the festival, its arrival is signaled by beating log drums with a distinct tune called Lan Nyangshem. The priests or the village elders predict whether the festival would bring a blessing or a curse.
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The Khiamniungam District: Tuensang Main festival: Miu Khiamniungan is one of the minor Naga tribes, mainly found in the Tuensang district of Nagaland, India and the adjoining areas of Burma. According to a popular myth, Khiamniungan means “source of great waters� - the place from where the early ancestors of Khiamniungan are said to have emerged. This place is identified near Lengnyu-Tsuwao villages over looking from the present day Noklak and Pathso towns.
A bonding festival, a main purpose of Mid is to build and reinforce relations between a maternal uncle and his nephews and nieces. The maternal uncle offers special prayers to duties for granting prosperity and power over enemies to his nephews and nieces. The traditional Khiamiungan attire consists of bright red which indicates blood and bright deep blue (indicates water) colored dresses. The ornaments are made of cowries and conch shells.
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The Lotha Lotha is the name of a major Naga tribe inhabiting the Wokha district of Nagaland, India. Lothas are renowned for their colorful dances and folk songs. The male members wear shawls indicating their social status. The prestigious social shawl for women is Opvuram and Longpensu for men. Like many Nagas, the Lothas practiced headhunting in the older
days. After the arrival of Christianity, they gave up this practice.Tokhu Emong and Pikhuchak are the main festivals celebrated amidst much pomp and splendor. Tokhu Emong is celebrated on November 7. The Tokhß Emong is the harvest festival of the Lothas. With the harvest done and the granaries full, the people now take a respite from the toils and sweat and settle down to enjoy the fruits of one’s hard labour.
Morung
Stalls of traditional Lotha tribe’s clothing outside morung
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The Yimchungru Yimchunger is one of the major Naga tribes of Nagaland and the Tuensang district within India and areas of Burma.Increased tourism to the region has brought new life to many in Nagaland. Tourism has been supported and encouraged by the locals in the form of shows and demonstrations of the life and customs of the Yimchunger. The word Yimchunger means “the ones who have reached their place of choice�. Strong ties to cultural identity in the form of their love and passion for agriculture are reflected in the hymns and beats of songs devoted to the craft. The musical
instruments of the Yimchungers include simple log drums, trumpets and flutes. The traditional dress of the Yimchungers includes colorful cane-made headgear decorated with hair and bird feathers.Metemneo is the traditional five-day harvest festival of the Yimchunger tribe. It is celebrated after the millet crop is harvested, usually in the second week of August. The ceremonies are inaugurated by the village elder khiungpu. The tribals pray for the souls of the deceased, invite friends home and exchange gifts. The festival is marked by engagements between the young tribals. 12
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The Sumi ‘Sumi Naga’ is one of the major Naga peoples in Nagaland, India. The Sumis Mainly inhabit the Zunheboto district. The Sumi are one of the most united and most aggressive Naga tribe. Since times immemorial, other Nagas have
the Sumi. This festival is marked with feasts as the occasion occurs in the bountiful season of the year. Drinking rice beer indispensably forms as part of the feasts. Rice beer is served in a goblet made of bamboo or made from
feared the Sumi. Despite their ferocity and aggressive nature in warfare, the Sumi are known for their simplicity and honesty.The Sumis practised headhunting like other Naga peoples before the arrival of the Christian missionaries and their subsequent conversion to Christianity. The ancestral religion of the Sumis was the worship of nature. Tuluni (July 8) is a festival of great significance for
the leaf of plantain. This drink is called Tuluni which gives the festival its name. Tuluni is also called “Anni” the word of which denotes the season of plentiful crops. This midyear festival is a time of communal harmony and merry-making for the Sumi community. Slaughtering of pigs, cows and mithun is an important feature of this festival.
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Storage containers for grains, water, essential utilities and rice pounding containers.
The Kuki district: peren Main Festival: mimkut Date: Jan 17 The kakis are one of the tribe who
As such this tribe can be considered to
followed a southerly migrations route and were known as Aishen when they migrated from manipur. Later some of them also migrated to meluri sub division towards the Indo-Myanmar border. Kuki Tribe of Manipur can be historically traced back from the Stone Age. Since its creation this tribe remained significant in the ancient history as well as modern history under the British Empire in India till it was defeated in the Anglo- Kuki war of 1917-1919.
be one of the original inhabitants of the land who largely reside in the hilly region of the State. Kukis celebrated Mimkut, a harvest festival, for a week from the 17th day of the kuki month of tolbol. It is said that Mimkut and other festival started in order to appease Thilha The Demon. The village medicine man sacrifices fowls and performs a series of rituals to Propitiate the spirit of the demon god during this festival.
Men and women of the Kuki tribe holding their indegeniously made ‘Guns’ and ‘smoking pipe’. 16
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Bushu, the word gives the meaning such as Brai-Sibrai is a supreme God in Dimasa society. So, in this way, the entire harvesting new paddy is offered first to the Brai sibrai madai for peace of the human kind is called Bushu.
The Kachari
The festival is usually celebrated in the month of January, when all sort or works of the jhum are completed. Thus the Bushu is an occasion for relaxation from hard toils.
Kachari being one of the indigenous tribe of India’s North-East, their history is quite old. In the Mahabharata and other ancient Hindu scriptures there are mention about the foothill dwellers of the Great Himalayas called ‘Kiratas’. BUSHU is an important festival celebrated by Dimasa with the celebration of great pomp and splenduor among the Dimasa. Bushu is celebrated after completion of harvest. Married women of Kachari Tribe
Different attire for unmarried women 18
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indicative of the status and position of the weavers. A man who has not been able to offer a great feast, or has never killed an enemy, may wear an ordinary type of cloth called rhikho.
The Rengma The Rengmas and the Lothas (or Lhotas) were once part of a single tribe. There are also oral records of a mighty struggle between the combined Rengma villages, and the Lotha village of Phiro. Slavery used to
be a practice among the Rengmas, and the slaves were known by the names menugetenyu and itsakesa. By the time the British arrived in the Naga region, the slavery was a declining practice, and no Rengma appears to have been a slave during this time. The traditional Rengma clothing consists of various types of clothes, which are
Rhikho is a white cloth with four narrow black bands. The number of black bands varies with the age of the wearer. Moyet tsu is another ordinary type of cloth, worn by the young men. It is a dark blue cloth with a very broad median band, and embroidered with a thin zigzag pattern in red at the edges. Alungtsu is a cloth for well-to-do men, who have not yet offered a great feast. Teri Phiketsu is a shawl, which requires the wearer to perform the head hunting ceremony. The harvest festival of the Rengmas is called Ngada. It is an eight-day Ngada festival that marks the end of the agricultural season.
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The Sangtam The Sangtams are a Naga tribe living in the Tuensang and Kiphire districts of Nagaland. Like many other tribal groups in Northeast India, they practice jhum, or shifting cultivation. Unlike other Naga tribes in Nagaland, many of the Sangtam have retained their traditional beliefs in spite of embracing Christianity at the same
time. Sangtams celebrate twelve different festivals, in particular Mongmong, all of which are affiliated with their traditional culture and religion. Significance of Mongmong festival Nagaland, situated in NorthEastern part of India, is repleted with festivities, with year long festivals; each with different and authentic customs just as the many tribes graces the state of Nagaland. 22
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Log drum ceremony Log drum is an important feature in Chang, Konyak, Yimchunger and Sangtam villages as well they form a part of the morung itself. Log drum repair is prepared with only one piece of food which at time is 37 feet in length and 15 feet in circumference. The village priest advises in selection and cutting of the tree out of which log drum is made. The selection is made with prolonged and proper care. A band of village elders follow the priest in the forest to find a suitable tree which is not affected or injured by storm or conflagration, proper shape size and auspicious signs. Both ends of the log are left closed. The front end is skilfully carved in the shape of
a Mithun's Head and the other end of a thick tail. When the villagers lined up on either side of the drum to beat it with their pestles on the slit, it makes piercing sound. The tribes make offerings to the log drum during the time of their festivities as it is regarded almost like a deity and thus, has ritual significance. ", Earlier it serves as a war drum and was beaten to warn villagers about impending danger. Now village council meetings, important gatherings, commencement of festivals and feasts, emergency like breaking out a fire etc. Are announced by beating the tram. Different type of sounds and rhythms are made to signal different messages.
Log drum (Chang tribe)
Beating of Log drum in celebration 24 25
Feasts of merit
Gathering of village men (Khiamniungam tribe) to celebrate feast of merit.
Feasts of merit are optional feast performed by an individual. The feasts are ranked in importance and scale, each stage carrying rights to new kind of personal adornment and house decoration, and prohibition in terms of permitted foods. Each stage burdens the feast giver with every greater expense in term of slaughtered cattle and vats of rice beer. The final rite in the series, which not all men will attain, may involve not only the stone dragging but also the sacrifice of a mithan or the adding of carved house horns. Theoretically, a man who finishes all the feast of merit but then start again at the first, but this
has probably never never happened rather the final feast is repeated, if the individual can afford to do it twice. In some communities woman have a parallel set of feasts they undertake. These ceremonies both mark and create distinctions in social status. The feasts converts material wealth into social rank. A man who has enough wealth to give a feast would at the same time obviously be a man possessing ‘fertility’: his wealth is a sign of this. The feast is therefore recognition of of his ritual status, and a mechanism for spreading his fertility among his fellow villagers.
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NAGA FOOD Nagaland, each with similar yet unique traditions and practices. While food from each tribe overlaps, there are also certain dishes that are specifically known from a certain tribe. Rice, pork, chicken, dogs, insects snd worms, vegetables, and famous chili sauces are essential in the Naga diet. Here it’s most common to hang out at homes of friends and family. So not that many locals go to restaurants for meals, but eating at home or eating at Fish cooked in bamboo
friends’ homes is still very much a part of their culture. That’s part of the reason why you won’t find many restaurants serving traditional Naga food in Nagaland. There are quite a few restaurants serving North Indian food or Tibetan momos, but real Naga cuisine is harder to come by.
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Rice beer Dried pork Hanging above any Naga kitchen fire will be pieces of meat (both pork and beef), that slowly dry out and smoke high above the flames.After weeks or sometimes much longer than that, the meat is ready to be consumed.
Bamboo steamed fish
Smoked pork
Bamboo grows everywhere in Nagaland, and it has many different uses. One of the common ways to cook is using tubes of bamboo. Bamboo shoots are a delicacy itself. The fish were stuffed into a hollow tube of bamboo with a few light spices and then placed in the ash of the fire to cook. After the fish were cooked, they were simply emptied out of the bamboo into a bowl and ready to be served. They were quite plain and boney, but I could detect a nice hint of bamboo flavor in the fish. Along with some of the chili sauce, they were really good.
Akhuni
Zutho is a famous rice beer that is made all over the North East especially famous in Nagaland and is the main source of enjoyment for the people. It is made with sticky rice fermented for a specific time.
Axone (also known as akhuni) is
Bushmeat/ Dog meat
used by almost every household in Nagaland. There are many uses for these fermented soyabeans some important and popular ones are: It is used along with vegetables for making stew. Most importantly used to make chutney. Every household’s favourite dishes with Akhuni are: Smoked pork in Akhuni, Dried river fish with Akhuni, Dried beef with Akhuni
One of the favourite dishes of the Naga people is the Bushmeat or otherwise known as dog meat. It is considered to be very delicious by the Naga people. The Wednesday Bazaar in Dimapur is like heaven to all the people as things are sold for cheap where a live dog is sold for Rs.500 to Rs.600.
Rice beer
Ghost chilly, king chilly
Boiled vegetables This is of course ‘THE’ dish of Nagaland. Whichever dish you might find yourself eating will always be accompanied by boiled vegetables like spinach, beans, carrots, Colocasia leaves etc.
Pork in ghost chilly chutney.
Bhut jolokia is used as a food and a spice, as well as a remedy to summer heat.It is used in both fresh and dried forms, to "heat up" curries, pickles and chutneys. It is popularly used in combination with pork or dried or fermented fish.
Bhut jolokia, or King chilly
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Bamboo basketry of the Khiamnuingan -Naga The application of bamboo in every sphere of life is the common thread shared in the craft repositories of the Nagas. From birth in the cutting of the umbilical cord, to the final journey on bamboo - The grass provides the Nagas with every means of natural bio-resources. Naga communities has developed an excellent engagement in its utility to produce a variety of bamboo implements and basketry for daily use, as well as, fine decorative craftwork.
craftwork in cane and bamboo and speaks volume on the skills and artistic creativity. Khiamniungan artisans under their own genius have adapted functional utility with creative impulses to dexterously craft an assortment of basketry, evident in the numerous basket consigned to specific agriculture and utilitarian purposes. Along every stage of the process using only the dao (machete), the skilled artisans craft fine specimen of bamboo and cane basketry.
The Khiamniungan- Naga craft tradition in exemplary of Naga 32
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Woodcraft Tradition A great deal of Naga woodcraft tradition was associated with preChristian belief and social practices, and may be considered primarily under the stimulus of head taking exploits and Morung institute or male dormitory. Taking an enemy trophy conferred a man the right to wear specific motifs in dress, ornaments and vernacular features, not entitled to others. Carvings on villages gates and Morungs symbolised these exploits in the collective habitat. The Phom community of Nagaland inhabit Longleng district, and the traditional woodcarvings of the Phom Naga maybe considered respectively with head taking, mooring culture, and
wealth. The narrative is represented in the elaborate decorations of the mooring posts, doorway panels, and in the vernacular architecture of the people who are the givers of the feast of merit. Animals, human figures, hornbill bird and the cosmology are symbolic inferences of glory in the hornbill bird, tiger of bravery, human figure to a warrior, money head to substitute a human head trophy and human nature, mithun head for wealth, a giver of the feast of merit, and stylised. The rudimentary tools that continue to be used in wood carving are dao (machete), knife, chisel, and hammer.
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RĂźzakhĂź / TherĂźkadieraShawl of Merit of the Chakhesang- Naga The right of merit the shawl, is bestowed upon the man and wife who have performed their first Feast of Merit. The body cloth woven all in white, is defined by the thick interlaced leitmotif pattern made in stitching four panels together using a porcupine quill to insert a thick thread by twirling several strands to achieve the results. The white of the textile symbolises the fat of the animal, an indication to the size of the animal to the wealth of the feast giver, and the thick interlace pattern symbolises the innards of the slaughtered animal given in the feast.
The making of ENHYIE : Palm leaf rain- cloak The Chakhesang- Naga craft a palmleaf rain cover called Enhyie. It is also used by other naga communities. In the crafting process, the harvest leaves are split and left to dryer two to three days, after which the leaves are soaked in water to make it malleable for weaving. Next, the leaves are rolled with the hands into long strands and wrapped on a wooden frame stand. As the strands get braided, at regular intervals, whole split leaves are attached in rows and left loose on the underside. The process continues to the desired length with the underside achieving a textured layer of palm leaves. It is worn on the textured side to protect the wearer from rain as well as from heat. 36
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Nyek - bead work of the konyak- Naga In the vocabulary of the Naga ornaments the Konyak Nyek or beaded necklace, is exemplary in the use of colour palette, geometrical designs and stylised figures woven into neck piece. The origin of the craft according to Konyak- Nga craft lore, narrates to a time in the past when the common people worked the Angh’s (king) fields. The queen with nothing to do decided to make bead chains fir her lime box and a hairband for her hair. As time went by, the single row of beads had metaphor to the intricate and beautiful designs we see today. Thereafter, the culture of beads ornamentation was adopted by the Konya-Naga. Until the recent past, only Queens and female members of the royal household could engage in the craft practice of Nyek. It was banned for the common people. Today, there is no restriction and the craft is practiced by most konyak womenfolk.
E-Lonniu : Bark finer cloth of the Khiamniungan- Naga Naga communities other than cotton have extracted fibre from alternative natural sources such as nettle and tree barks. The women of the Khiamniungan-Naga, extract bark fibres from an indigenous species of trees, employing a laborious process to weave shawls, slings, bags and male jackets. Two weavers from Choklangan, a village bordering with Myanmar will demonstrate the process from finer extraction to thread and weave cloth. 38 39
Dances and Songs are different for different tribes of Nagaland thus, giving a wide variety to their culture. The differences lie in name and the costumes and the language used to sing, however, much similarity can be observed in the themes, the property/ instrument used and the technique in every dance and Music form. Also, most of the Dances and songs revolve around the laws and traditions of the tribe to which they belong.
Music
Ekranipathar Village Cultural troupe of the Chakesang tribe performing the folk tale about ‘The Cannibal Demon’.
The oral tradition is kept alive through the media of folk tales and songs. Naga folk songs are both romantic and historical, with songs narrating entire stories of famous ancestors and incidents. There are also seasonal songs which describe various activities done in a particular agricultural season.
Dance The folk dances of the tribes of the state are performed on several auspicious events such as religious festivals, harvesting of the crops, wedding ceremonies, social gatherings etc. Each tribe of the state has its own dance but they are bound by commonality. In most of the dances of Nagaland, the upper body stands upright and erect, while the legs of the dancers perform complex steps. The folk dances of the state include Aaluyattu, Agurshikukula, Butterfly Dance, Changai Dance, Khamba Lim, Kuki Dance, Leshalaptu, Mayur Dance, Modse, Monyoasho, Sadal Kekai, Seecha and Kukui Kucho, Shankai and Moyashai, Rengma etc. 40
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Pathso Noken Cultural troupe of the Khiamniungan tribe performing the Ey-Li Zui, a popular war dance.
Orangkong Village Cultural troupe of the Phom tribe (Longleng) performing the Panghakpo, a snake dance.
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Phoyisha Range Cultural troupe of the Pochury tribe dramatizing Suchiya, a healing ritual performed by the village priest. The priest speakes to the evil spirit and heals the man suffering from it.
Stilt Bamboo walking competition amongst all tribes.
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Pholami Dzuvekro Cultural troupe of the Chakesang tribe performing Suhsu Khu Li. It is the village ritual when a family brings home a new ‘Semke’ or the rice pounding table.
Garo tribe performing a song in praise of their king in their morung.
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Chingdang Village Cultural troupe of the Konyak Tribe performing ‘Wuh Leng Jun Pu Hem’ , a fishing song.
Kithagha Village Cultural troupe of the Rengma tribe performing Agahli a folk dance.
Angangba Village Cultural troupe of the Sangtam tribe performing Shore-o-shore.
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