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Angami Naga Attire
The Angami Naga people are one of the major Naga tribes inhabiting the northeastern part of India, primarily in the Kohima and Dimapur districts of Nagaland. They are further divided into four sections based on their geographical locations, but they share common Naga cultural elements and have a deep-rooted connection to their heritage. The Angamis speak Tenyidie language which is of Tibeto-Burman origin, and is mostly written using the Roman script.
Angami men and women celebrating Sekrenyi festival. Image source: Indian culture portal
Angami men during Sekrenyi festival. Image source: Indian culture portal
The traditional attire of an Angami man includes Neitho; a kilt-like garment that is usually made from hand woven cotton fabric. It typically has two long strings attached to the inner edges so as to secure the cloth at the waist, in a way that covers the lower body. Some neithos are ornamented with cowrie shells that are sewn to the border of the garment. A neitho adorned with three horizontal lines each, with space intervals, signifies the achievement or the status of the wearer. A neitho with four lines of cowrie shells indicates that the wearer has killed an enemy and was used to signify acts of valor performed in battles.
To cover their torso, Angami men wear the Terha (sash) that features a multicoloured lozenge pattern. This is usually worn with matching arm bands made of red-dyed cane with yellow orchid motifs and armlets of ivory or animal bones.
A 20th century sash of the Angamis with lozenge motif. Image source: Indian Culture portal
Angami Men wearing Sula (headdress) during Sekrenyi festival. Image Source: Youtube
During the Sekrenyi (harvest festival) celebrations, Angami men wear a ceremonial headdress made from bamboo spikes and decorated with cockerel feathers and coloured threads. It is adorned with several long sashes and colourful ribbons at the rear. The headdress is relatively heavy and is secured in place by a string that is tied to the frame and then held in front of the wearer’s chest.
The “Phichu-Pfe” is a distinct shawl worn exclusively by the Angami Naga priests during religious ceremonies and rituals. It is a symbol of their spiritual role and authority within the community.
The central piece of an Angami woman’s traditional attire is the Loramhoushu. It is a white wrap-around skirt secured at the waist with four black marginal bands along the length and breadth. On each of these black bands are pink or red narrow accents. Underneath that, women wear a garment called neikhro, to provide additional coverage to the lower body.
For their daily use, Angami women wear a more practical and comfortable two-piece clothing set known as Lohe suit. The Lohe is primarily black in colour with red and green marginal stripes. Traditionally, Angami women also wore a sleeveless bodice called vatchi, though this has largely been replaced by modern blouses. Cotton, silk and woollen yarns are the basic raw materials used for weaving by the Angamis.
An Angami woman wearing a Loramhoushu and traditional ornaments. Image Source: Ketoulhounuo Khezhie
Angami woman wearing a Lohe Suit. Image source: Ketoulhounuo Khezhie
Angami women are known to adorn themselves with necklaces of colourful beads. These necklaces are a combination of different types of beads like oblong red carnelian beads, white shell beads, and black glass beads. Bone spacers are used to separate and hold the beads in place, creating a structured and visually appealing arrangement.
These elements of the traditional Angami attire are worn with reverence during cultural events, festivals, and ceremonies to showcase their culture and heritage. Their diversity and uniqueness contribute to the vibrant cultural mosaic of North-East India.
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