1/4th of Nagaland

The other day I was just packing my woollens for next winter when my eyes got fixed on a bright, red Naga Shawl I bought from Dimarpur town in Nagaland. August 2006 we planned a family visit to Dimarpur, Nagaland, to one of our relatives there and came back with souvenir. It turned out to be an engrossing trip in the hinterlands of North East. Dimarpur is a modern town, ensconcing in its heart an ancient generous past that once Dimarpur was. An important centre of trade and commerce, and a very convenient choice for tourist infrastructure, Dimarpur is also the entrée to and from Nagaland.

The old town of Dimarpur once served as a flourishing Kingdom of Kacheri Kingdoms. Today it is a well-kept entrance gateway to the sublime beauty of Nagaland. From simple to elaborately design and to elegantly designed Naga Shawls, these are a customary wear of the

Naga Shawls

One of the prime draw at Nagaland, and 1/4th of it are contained in its shawls. Crafted and patterned in multi-colours with fine appliqué, Naga Shawl is also the cultural documents as it weaves into itself the intricate narrative of the about the tribe, social status of its wearer and, at times, indicates special ceremonies through its patterns. A numerous of tradition and customs are woven into the design pattern of the shawls which are a customary wear of Nagas. Talk to one of the local Naga and they would spill out the toil that goes into weaving the shawl, customs and best places to purchase to newcomers and emptors.

Naga Shawls come in many tempting, bright colours mostly red, black and dark shades of blue. There are many varieties of shawls like Tsungkotepsu, Rongsu, Angami Naga, Supong, Rongkhim, Lotha, and Tsungrem Khim to make a choice from. The tribal woollen shawls from Nagaland are popular for unique designs and motifs. Naga Shawls are made by stitching 3 or 9 separate narrow pieces of shawls into one large garment where central part of the shawl is heavily embroidered than the side parts. A number of shops in Dimarpur engage in selling Naga shawls; right from Nagaland Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation, opposite the State Transport bus at Kohima station, to shops in the super market which stock Naga shawls, clothes, crockery and knick-knacks are stocked with fancy shawls in all sizes and colours.

Types of Nagaland Shawls

Tsungkotepsu and Rongsu Shawl

Woven out on a darker coloured base, Tsungkotepsu Shawl, this is an exclusive produce of AOS tribe. Tsungkotepsu Shawls have a median white band on either side of it there are horizontal bands of contrasting colours like red, black and white. These middle bands are hand-painted with fancy patterns of various symbolic figures in black.

Angami Naga Shawl

Angami Naga Shawl is threaded in black with broad, thick embroidery of animals’ motif. This is also called as warrior shawl, and has a tradition of being worn by the warrior tribes of Angami.

Supong

This is an uncommon shawl worn and created by the Sangtam tribe, mainly used by rich people. Supong is woven in black colour with four grey bands at the top and another four bands of the same colour at the bottom.

Rongkhim

Rongkhim is very beautiful shawl worn by the warrior of great renown in Yimchunger Naga tribe. It is patterned on red and black colours with grey bands on each side.