Nagaland, the state of India, is in the hills and mountains of the northeastern part of the country. It is one of the smaller states in India. Nagaland is surrounded by Arunachal Pradesh to the northeast, Manipur to the south, and Assam to the west.

The state has rich arts and craft which showcases the creativity and imagination of the local craftsmen. Moreover, it has many small-scale cottage and medium-scale industries as they make products from the traditional.

Arts and crafts that showcase their culture and traditions

Weaving

The art of weaving is mainly the domain of the females here. The weaving industry is one of the important industries of Nagaland which boosts the financial strength of the northeastern state of India. The weaving industry is one of the traditional industries of Nagaland. According to the social customs in ancient times, the wife of a particular man who goes hunting couldn’t weave. Women now engage in the weaving industry to make a living. The state government of Nagaland has taken interest in order to improve the condition of the small-scale and medium-scale cottage industries.

The government has provided them with all the modern types of machinery. Also, the weaving industries of Nagaland produce world-class products that have international fame. However, the government of Nagaland has established training institutes in the districts of Dimapur and Mokokchung that teach professional courses on weaving. Most of the women of Nagaland weave their own clothes.

Embroidery

The Embroidery is popular as Sami Lami Phee, the Angami Naga shawls were in distribution to the valiant fighters by the ruler of Nagaland in recognition of their service during the ancient times. The Angami Naga shawls are usually embroidered with unique design patterns of several wild animals against the black base of the shawls. The exclusive embroidered cloths are an important part of the rich arts and crafts of Nagaland.

All the people of Nagaland have learned the art form of designing beautiful patterns of animals on pieces of cloth. Designed with colorful threads or wools, the Angami Naga shawls reflect the old glory and royalty of the state of Nagaland. Moreover, the embroidered items help the state to earn huge revenues and helped in the economic and social development of Nagaland. Also, the state government of Nagaland has worked to improve the small-scale and medium-scale cottage industries for keeping forward the traditional art of embroidery.

Pottery

The pottery of Nagaland is one of the celebrated crafts. Pottery is a part of the Naga families. It is a unique form of craft. Moreover, the pottery is made exclusively with the help of hands, revolving the wheel for making the vessels does not exist Nagaland. The earthenwares made in Nagaland have functional value. The pottery of Nagaland does not have intricate detailing and designs. The Tseminyu and Ungma villages are famous for their pottery.

Mat making

The Mats are widely popular with the local residents as well as tourists. In this place, bamboo is one of the main elements which is used to make various types of handicraft articles. The mats are woven from bamboo splits. The raw material is in abundance in the state and bamboo splits are in demand always. The price differs depending on the width and the length of the splits. The outer layer of the bamboo is used to make the splits.

The Mats are famous for various purposes such as in the construction of houses, rugs for drying grains, pretty floor coverings, comfortable sleeping mats, windows, doors,s and decorative purposes.  In order to add color to the mat colored or textured warp is used by the artisans. The mats are also in making wall hangings, table mats, tray mats, flower sticks, etc. Hence, the price of the mats depends on the quality of the delicate bamboo splits.

Also, Nagaland has its own rich art and culture that we all must connect to and learn more about it. Henceforth, the Nagas have kept their ancient tradition and craft by staying connected to their roots.