I was in Nagaland in March 2012 for a short photo documentation project with National Institute of Design. Uploading a bunch of pictures which I found interesting and worth sharing.
Burma Border, Longwa, Nagaland. Incidentally, this little village, which falls on the other side of the international border, is ruled by the king who lives in India. Amazing, isn't it. The king's house is half in Burma and half in India :)
The King's house in Longwa, Nagaland. This village is the last one on the Indian territories in East. From across the house, one can (quite literally) pop into Burma. The photo prior to this one is over looking the Burma valley..
Hunted heads showcase Valor. This is inside the King's house in Longwa, Nagaland. What one might not be able to make out from this picture is the "variety". We spotted heads of monkeys, wild boar, bear, goats, but mostly Bison. Bison is the State Animal of Nagaland.
Nagamese think that cameras take possession of their spirits and hence are generally camera shy. Some might even throw stones at you in order to keep away the camera..
By the time I managed to click a portrait of the entire family with the Bison heads on display, most of them walked in.
The kids look on with curiosity.
By the time I managed to click a portrait of the entire family with the Bison heads on display, most of them walked in.
The kids look on with curiosity.
A man dressed in Nagamese outfit and jewelry. Modernisation has introduced them to new styles of dressing and they have moved on from living a "naked" life.
Local girls look on with curiosity
The brother was so scared, while the sister enjoys her minute of fame :)
A beef shop on the road of Mon District.. Beef and Rice is the staple food in this district.
A typical way of cultivation, called as Jhoom (slash and burn), being practiced in this huge chunk of land on a hill top. The Nagamese cut unwanted weeds and trees and leave them for drying over couple days, before burning the whole area which needs to be cleared. Ploughing and planting happens once monsoon arrives.
A not so typical Nagamese house, with parking space, a Sty and a crematorium, all side by side.. :)
Nagamese Shop selling daily use items, and lots of tobacco :)
Weaving is the most common activity performed by the local women, besides jewelry making. Nagamese jewelry is a piece of art, which is dying a slow death.
An old woman weaves a basket. Notice her jewelry :) the necklace and the ear piece. Modernization has led to introduction of nylon and plastic. Baskets were originally made of bamboo strips.
The ear adornments were originally porcupine needles, now replaced with plastic sticks.
The ear adornments were originally porcupine needles, now replaced with plastic sticks.
Tea Gardens can be found in plenty around Nagaland.
Streets in Mon Town, Nagaland.. Locals are pretty well off. Old cement constructions continue to don the landscape, in between thatched roofs and hay walls, as seen in the background.
A local wearing the traditional jewelry, made of brass heads and bones.
The Valley as visible from our guest house. Thatched roofs are being replaced with Tin Shades. Imagine waking up to such a view every day in the morning at 5 am with heavy fog and extremely cold breeze.. :)
Sun Rising in the valley, as visible from our guest house, Mon Town, Nagaland. Thanks to the Fog, most of the valley is not visible.
