Nagaland is a vibrant hill state located in India's extreme Northeast, and offers rich incomparable traditional and cultural heritage.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFNagaland 88(photo credit: Courtesy)
Nagaland is a vibrant hill state located in India's extreme Northeast, bordered by Myanmar in the East; Assam in the West; Arunachal Pradesh and a part of Assam in the North with Manipur in the south. It offers rich incomparable traditional and cultural heritage.
The State of Nagaland was formally inaugurated on December 1st, 1963, as the 16th State of the Indian Union. It consists of seven Administrative Districts, inhabited by 16 major tribes along with other sub-tribes. Each tribe is distinct in character from the other in terms of customs, language and dress.
Nagaland is a land of folklore. Passed down the generations through word of mouth, here music is an integral part of life; folk songs eulogize ancestors, brave deeds of warriors, and traditional heroes; poetic love songs immortalize ancient tragic love stories; Gospel songs that touch your soul; and modern tunes that set your feet a-tapping.
Each of the tribes and sub-tribes that dwell in this exotic hill State can easily be distinguished by their colorful and intricately designed costumes, and the jewelry and beads they adorn. The present generation of Nagas has ventured into fashion designing in a big way, producing fabrics that represent ancestral motifs, but blended with modern appeal. Indeed, it is a beautiful mix of the past with the present - a paradise for those who are into fashion designing. Nagaland is an affluent fashion station of the East.
The traditional ceremonial attire of each tribe is an awe inspiring sight to behold; multicolored spears and daggers decorated with dyed goats' hair, headgear made of finely woven bamboo interlaced with orchid stems, adorned with boar's teeth and hornbill's feathers, elephant tusk armlets….. You name it! In days of yore every warrior had to earn each of these items through acts of valor in order to wear them.
Nature could not have been kinder to Nagaland, sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of the East; exquisitely picturesque landscapes, vibrantly colorful sunrise and sunset, lush and verdant flora - this is a land that represents unimaginable beauty, molded perfectly for a breathtaking experience.
The people of Nagaland are Indo-Mongoloid. Their ancestors lived off nature's abundant gifts, blessed with sturdy formidable dispositions. Above all, the people here are warmhearted and extremely hospitable! You'll feel it in the air!
Nagaland is blessed with a relatively mild climate throughout the year. This is a place for a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. Life in Nagaland is laid back and slow - providing a tension-free living.
For the adventurous and the intrepid, Nagaland is an ideal place for trekking, rock climbing, jungle camping and offers limitless exploration possibilities in its lush and verdant sub-tropical rain forests which are also a treasure trove of a plethora of medicinal plants.
For more on the State of Nagaland in India, see the State Government's official website at http://nagaland.nic.in/This is a sponsored article. The article should not be considered as advice.