Travel Guide toNagaland

The people of Nagaland mainly comprise the Tibeto-Burman tribal communities of the Naga tribes of the mountains and the Kuki and Dimasa tribes of the foothills. Some of the Naga tribes also inhabit the neighboring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur as well as the Sagaing state of Myanmar. During the colonial British era, the tribal territory of the Nagas was administered differently as the colonial masters avoided interference in tribal affairs. This led to the preservation of their tribal culture. Few of the Naga tribes had earlier practiced headhunting as war trophies, which was later banned in the 1970s.

The Ao tribe of Mokokchung is one of the largest Naga tribes. The Aos became the first Naga tribe to be converted into Christianity by the Baptist Missionaries in 1872. The Angamis are natives of the capital Kohima. They are well known for their art, architecture, and colorful costumes. The Angamis also practice the interesting stone pulling ceremony where the entire village gathers and pulls a large monolith from the forest to their village marking a chapter in their history. The Chakhesang tribe of Pfutsero are culturally alike to the Angamis. The Sema tribe of Zunheboto is also a large Naga community. The Lothas of the Wokha district are another prominent Naga tribe who are well known for their bamboo crafts. The Zeliangrong tribe comprises of the Zeme, Liangme, and Rongme clans. They dwell in remote villages in the mountains of southern Nagaland and Manipur. The Morung (dormitory) at Benreu village is considered the oldest in Nagaland. The Konyaks of the remote Mon district were known for their head-hunting traditions. Many Konyak villages are still governed by their Angh (king). The Konyaks are also well known for their war dances during the Aoling Festival. Few Naga tribes such as Chang, Sangtam, Yimchungru, and Khiamniungan coexist in the Tuensang area. Phom, Pochury, and Rengma are some of the Naga tribes with a smaller population. The clans of the Kuki tribe and the Dimasas, who dwell in the foothills near Dimapur and are culturally different from the other Naga tribes.

Each of these tribes can easily be recognized by their distinct costumes, architecture, and rituals. Though they are culturally different from one another, their mythical origins can be traced to the Living Stones of Khezakeno village, from where the tribes migrated in different directions. The Morung dormitory for bachelors is a common structure that can be seen in all Naga villages. The long Log Drums are also a part of the indigenous culture of every Naga tribe. Another common aspect is their excellence in producing cane and bamboo crafts. The Hornbill Festival, organized by the Nagaland tourism department, is a good opportunity to observe the traditions and cultures of the different tribes at a single venue.

The tribes of Nagaland produce some of the finest indigenous handicrafts in India. Most of their crafts are made from sustainable resources which are easily available in their surroundings. Due to their dependence on bamboo for daily purposes, most tribes have cane crafts. Cane baskets are common among most tribes, the Angamis make tall baskets for storing grains. The Angamis are an artistic tribe who have beautiful wood carvings which can be seen in the large Kharu gateways to their villages. The beautifully carved gates also have elaborate carvings of tribal motifs. Handwoven shawls are another popular handicraft of Nagaland, the patterns and colors vary among tribes. Brass pendants, worn as necklaces by Konyak men, symbolize head-hunting trophy masks. Konyak women also make beautiful necklaces, bangles, and bracelets with tiny beads. Chang tribe made ivory bracelets and tiger claw pendants in the old times when villagers hunted in the wild. Indigenous designs of tattoos are also unique to Nagaland, tattoos are adorned by the old Konyak men and also by the women of the Ao tribe. The decorated hunting spears of the Rengma tribe are the most common souvenirs found in their craft markets.