The traditional dresses in Nagaland are a lot different from the other states of India. The inhabitants of the state give a lot of weightage to their culture, traditions, and costumes and feel that costumes are what identifies them and separate them from the rest of the crowd. The traditional dress of Nagaland are colorful and vibrant.
A prominent element of Nagaland’s culture is the traditional dresses Nagaland. In the modernized world, the people of Nagaland still preserve their traditional clothing heritage. An overview of the traditional dresses of Nagaland worn by men and women, bride and bridegroom dresses of Nagaland, its culture, and festivals are given below.
Keep reading if you want to know more about the cultural and traditional heritage of Nagaland. Enjoy this cultural ride of Nagaland through this blog.
Traditional Dress of Nagaland For Men
1. Alungstu
This Is also a traditional dress of Nagaland which is worn by rich men of the place. These costumes depict prosperity and success. These clothes are dyed in yellow color and also have flowers on them. These dress designs have been made by the people belonging to the tribe only.
2. Kilt
The kilt is another dress that is worn apart from the shawl. A kilt is denoted as the working dress which is black. It is intricately designed with cowries. Before the cowries are designed on the Kilt, they are rubbed on a stone to make them stick perfect on cloth.
The man who uses the kilt only sews it. The cowries designed on top of the kilt are quite popular amongst the Nagaland people and are a symbol of the success of the wearer in love as well as in war.
Traditional Dress of Nagaland For Women
1. Azu Jangup Su
Skirts having red and yellow stripes on them are especially worn to mark special occasions.
2. Mechala
It is a cloth wrapped around the skirt and worn around the shawl.
3. Neikhro
Women of Nagaland also wear another dress known as Neikhro which has a design resembling a petticoat. The uniqueness of this dress lies in the color and pattern of these costumes.
4. Moyer Tusk
It is a cloth that is ordinary and is dark blue. It has a band with zigzag patterns at the end of the cloth.
Tribal Dress of Nagaland
Angami Tribe: Women belonging to the Angami tribe wear a skirt made up of blue cloth as well as white cloth. There are thick black bands on the margins of white cloth which vary in breadth.
Bridal Dress of Nagaland
Each wedding ceremony will be incomplete or without color if the bride and groom do not wear the traditional wedding dress.
Gown: Christianity is being increased in the state of Nagaland. The bride dresses up in a white gown in Nagaland. And the wedding rituals also are in Christian customs in Nagaland. The bride wears a crown or headgear on the head.
Sarees: Some brides also love to wear their traditional saree with some tribal accessories on it. They like to keep the traditional zest still alive.
Bridegroom Dress of Nagaland
Blazer/Suit: Christianity is being increased in the state of Nagaland. The bridegroom in Nagaland dresses up in a Black Blazer with a tie to his neck and a stone stud to his blazer which adds look to the attire. And the wedding rituals also are in Christian customs in Nagaland.
Jewellery of Nagaland
Naga Jewelry is made from a variety of materials such as carnelian and glass beads, coral, bronze, boar tusks, shells, ivory, conch shells, cowries. Orange, red, yellow, blue, green, bronze- go crazy colors together on a single piece.
Most necklaces are multi-stranded and it’s perfectly natural to wear many necklaces at the same time.
Culture of Nagaland
Nagaland has an ancient history of tribes whose counts sum to be as much as 66 including the sub-tribes. Out of these, 16 are considered as major tribes. With a difference in language, all tribes have a similar leafy dress code, eating habits, and traditional laws. Nagas are mostly Christians. Owing to the joie de vivre nature of Nagas, dance and music are an essential part of their culture.
Nagaland is exquisitely rich in flora and fauna and is a habitat to some of the dandiest plants and animals, not leaving behind the beautiful birds to which this place is home. Owing to its diversity in birds, Nagaland is referred to as, The Falcon Capital of the World. Nagaland supports a flamboyant tribal culture which leaves anybody visiting the place amazed and dazzled.
Famous Festivals of Nagaland
It is not for nothing, Nagaland is called the land of festivals. The tribes in Nagaland have festivals around the elements like the spirits that saunter the villages and forests; the fertility of soil; community bonding; purification and rejuvenation. The festivals of Nagaland are listed below:
- The Hornbill festival
- Ngada festival
- Hega festival
- Mim Kut festival
- Bushu Festival
Know more about the traditional dress of Tripura here.
