As briefly mentioned in the earlier photo story; the Hornbill Festival near Kohima in Nagaland is a great place to have a glimpse of the different tribes of Nagaland in their traditional attire. Names of the various tribes of Nagaland are : Ao, Angami, Chakhesang, Chang, Kachari, Khiamniungan, Lotha, Konyak, Kuki, Phom, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Pochury, Yimchunger, and Zeliang.
Photographs of Locals of Nagaland during Hornbill Festival
A moving portrait when the subject looks into the camera…The headgears witnessed in Hornbill Festival were super colourful and looked very exotic.I strolled around the festival grounds and this gentleman stood with stoic mannerisms when I pressed the shutter.Faces that tell a story : Those lines speak of valour from a past time.Glowing in the sunlight – the accessories worn by the Naga women are so different and unheard of.Haha thinking that the camera is the other way!Sippin’ on Amul Lassi !! A classic battle between modernity and the old ways.
With increasing modernisation in India’s Northeast, it may be possible that the only way for tourists to witness the tribes and have a peek at their culture is to attend their cultural festivals such as Hornbill. And even that looks like a deteriorating possibility to experience true culture as it existed.
Grinning ear to ear while watching the tug-of-war!!The sun can get disconcertingly hot even in December and this tribe’s gorgeous orange coloured fabrics dazzle in the light.Portrait of a lady from one of the Nagaland tribes – just can’t remember which one.The locals having a gala time watching the proceedings and cheering for their preferred teams!
This tribe’s costumes feels like they were designed for warriors; especially with that minimalist headgear.A candid moment with Nagas screaming at full throttle during the Hornbill Festival : Maybe these were the Konyaks.
I wonder how it would be to visit the different tribes in their natural environment and experience Nagaland for real rather than looking for culture at a tourism festival.Wow! That necklace looks incredible !! WWOOWA few of these accessories were available for sale in the nearby shops in the festival grounds but were outrageously overpriced.I remember spotting this man with the cool hat outside the Morung of the Pochury Tribe.Dressed to kill : Naga tribals in their traditional costumes at the Hornbill Festival.
