Traditional Dress of Nagaland
Posted on : Jun 7th,2011
Jun
7
Lying in the northeastern corner of the Indian subcontinent, Nagaland has evoked a sense of wonder and awe with its rich flora and fauna. A land which is inhabited by 16 recognized tribes, reflects history from every part. The age old tradition and culture is well reflected in the hospitality of the state along with its clothing, language and religious practices.
The 16 officially acknowledged tribes have their unique customs and traditions which are mostly reflected in their traditional dresses. Shawls being one of the most traditional costume of the state is worn extensively by its people. The designs and patterns of the shawls differ from tribe to tribe thereby giving this garment a unique style and appeal.
Besides the shawl, the people of Nagaland love to wear Kilt which is a regular working dress and is black in color. Sometimes, a Kilt can come decorated with cowries and are worn mostly by men. The women mostly clad themselves in blue and white cloth.
One of the most prominent Naga tribes, the Angamis are known for their unique costumes, designs and styles. The traditional black cloth or Lohe worn by this tribe is predominated by patterns of red and green bands.
The warrior clan, Aos, is marked by the traditional shawl named Tsungkotepsu. The white band in the center along with two horizontal red, black and white bands perfectly contrast the dark base color, thereby, brightening the entire garment. The shawl even comes with various figures of tiger, human head, elephant, cock, spear which is in fact a striking feature of the shawl.
The smart variety in motifs, designs, patterns together with the variety of shades have made the traditional dress of Nagaland extremely dynamic.
