Nagaland State Museum has over 4000 artefacts; attracts up to 1 lakh visitors annually

KOHIMA: The Nagaland State Museum in Kohima attracts about 90,000 to 1 lakh visitors, especially domestic tourists, every year.

Director of Art and Culture, Adela Moa, told Eastern Mirror that visitors are particularly intrigued by the ethnological gallery, textile and ornaments gallery among others.

The number of visitors increases during this time of year, she said, adding that the state museum currently has a collection of more than 4000 artefacts, of which 2000 are on display and the rest are kept in store for replacements.

Commemorating International Museum Day, which falls on May 18, the directorate of Art and Culture has announced free entry to Nagaland State Museum for visitors from May 18 to the 20th between 10 am and 3:30 pm.

‘During these days, students are encouraged to visit the museum. They can take advantage of the free entry to learn more about the history and rich heritage of the Nagas as the heritage subject has been incorporated in their syllabus, which is a good time for them to learn about culture,’ said Adela Moa.

The idea of inviting students to the museum through free entry in commemoration of International Museum Day, started last year, and the response was excellent, she said while expressing hope that more students will visit this year. 

On the occasion, three officers from the State Museum Branc attended workshops and training concerning maintenance of artefacts in New Delhi.

The occasion was also marked by a new addition at the State Museum in Kohima, called ‘Archaeological & Heritage Gallery’, which was inaugurated recently to highlight the “precolonial history and the pre-history of Nagaland”.

It was initiated by the department of Art and Culture in collaboration with local researchers and an archaeologist team led by Prof. Tiatoshi Jamir, department of History and Archaeology, Nagaland University Kohima Campus.

The team went to excavation sites in the district of Phek, Kiphire, Tuensang, etc., informed Adela Moa, adding that that the department plans to renovate the indigenous games and sports gallery and also install devices screening videos of Naga folk songs and dances, if there are enough funds.

As for the maintenance of the museum, she said ‘keeping up the specimens and preserving the biodegradable artefacts (majority) is a challenge.’

Besides the State Museum, Kohima, the department of Art and Culture also operates several branch including the state archives, state library, state academy hall, and War Museum in Kisama.