Editor's Pick
Unique souvenirs to take home from your Nagaland trip
With the Hornbill Festival 2023 all set to begin, it is the perfect time for festival-goers to plan ahead for memorable souvenirs to take home during their Nagaland trip.
If you are visiting Nagaland during the Hornbill Festival, you may want to buy some interesting souvenirs that will serve as a reminder of your experience or as a gift for your loved ones.
Here is a list of some few items you can comfortably carry in your bags while returning home:
Nagaland Coffee
Experience the unique delight of Nagaland’s organic coffee– its aroma and freshness will make you yearn for the hills where it is grown. Mon and Khar Single Estate coffees are particularly revered as best-sellers.
Nagaland Coffee thrives in – Roasted Beans: Distributed across Nagaland and India, including cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata, and Coffee Shops: Operating in Dimapur and Kohima, Nagaland.
At Nagaland Coffee Roasters, they focus on high-end quality coffee known as Specialty Coffee, collaborating closely with farmers to boost the economy and deliver visually appealing, distinctly delicious coffee. Nagaland Coffee presently operates farms in various districts like Zunheboto, Mon, Wokha, and Mokokchung. Each farm introduces distinct tasting notes, providing a wide array of flavours to meet customer preferences.
KINTEM – Mekhala
In Nagaland, women wear mekhala or wraparound/ wrap skirts/ sarong with unique patterns and colours representing their tribes. KINTEM, a blend of traditional Naga textiles and modern style, makes for a great souvenir that you can stylishly wear anywhere.
KINTEM, meaning “communities” in Ao Naga dialect, is a social enterprise, an off-shoot of Wapangla Weaving Unit. Dedicated to Naga weavers from across communities, they blend traditional designs with modern aesthetics, emphasising techniques like loin loom weaving and natural dyeing.
KINTEM stands out for its simple yet vibrant pieces inspired by Naga textiles, preserving the region’s heritage. Passionate about empowering communities, they create sustainable livelihoods through products like mekhalas and shawls, appealing to customers who value authenticity and intricate craftsmanship.
Abelia Casket – Naga Fusion Jewellery
Abelia Casket crafts minimal unique jewellery for both genders, blending traditional and modern styles. Driven by a desire for independence, Zulu founded the brand in 2018, starting as a simple idea to make ends meet. Her products, which will be showcased at the Contempore Heritage store at the Hornbill Festival main venue in Kisama, will make for a great souvenir.
Ikali’s Studio – Dolls and Hoops
Ikali’s Studio is curated by Ikali Sukhalu, a fashion graduate from Wigan and Leigh College, Mumbai, and the London College of Fashion.
Established in 2015 after winning the NIAPA contest and showcasing Tribal Trickle at New York Couture Week 2014, the studio focuses on simplicity, detail, and quality. It specialises in unique creations, such as ‘The Little Naga’ and hand-embroidered items, offering both ready-to-wear and made-to-measure services.
Their two standout products — cute dolls wearing traditional Naga outfits, perfect as eye-catching decor for your home, and the other is embroidered hoops featuring places like Dzüko Valley and Kohima War Cemetery. If you have been to these places during the Hornbill Festival, it is a great way to bring a piece of the experience home with you.
Made in Nagaland – Pickles
To support the growth of entrepreneurship in Nagaland, YouthNet launched the centre for “Made in Nagaland” with an aim to providing exposure and a centralized platform for local entrepreneurs to promote their products and services within and outside of the state. The Made in Nagaland Centre is located in Kohima, near Nagaland Civil Secretariat.
They are also available online on ‘Made In Nagaland’.
Discover a variety of homemade pickles from Nagaland, such as tathu home-made pickle, roots agro naga mircha hot sauce, sen sen dry chicken pickle, and more. Nagaland’s pickles add a flavourful kick to any meal and even complement noodles. Easy to carry, it makes great gift for friends to experience a taste of Nagaland.
One can either visit the centre or buy online: Pickles Archives – Made In Nagaland
Address: Opposite Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima.
Books
Nagaland boasts exceptional writers who bring a unique perspective, recounting their life phases, tales from hills and villages, and folklore passed down by parents and elders. These stories are crafted with depth. Visitors can bring home books by Naga writers.
Many Naga writers adopt a simple approach and perspective, vividly portraying life in its raw form. They capture relatable feelings and actions from everyday life, presenting them with a touch of humour that conveys truths and facts.
Keep an eye out for books by Easterine Kire, Temsüla Ao, Monalisa Changkija, Emisenla Jamir, Neikehienuo Mepfhü-o, and more. Also, check Heritage Publishing House and Penthrill Publication House; they offer an excellent collection of books by Naga writers.