Author: Kumti

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Hornbill Festival 2022 Starts Today in Nagaland.

It’s that time of the year again we’ve all been waiting for. Nagaland is once again all set to host the famous hornbill festival. A festival that celebrates music, culture, food, and arts & tradition. It only gets better and brighter every year. This year we will get to witness an array of attractions around the state starting from 1st Dec to 10th Dec. Throughout the festival, there will be a medley of folk songs and dances, a musical night with artists from across the country and beyond, the display of traditional arts and crafts being displayed at the morungs. There is surely something for everyone here at this festival. So whether you’re a local or a traveler, fuzzy up with your warmest jacket and enjoy the cozy festival with high spirits! Also, don’t miss out on the night carnivals and enjoy the local brews and delicacies. “For all of our music enthusiasts, the music festival – brought to you by LIVENOW, starts from 2nd December till the 10th. We have an exciting lineup of artists …

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The Return of the Cosplayers from Nagaland | NAJ Cosfest 2022

Welcome to the almost post-pandemic life where our lives took a bit of an upside down. After nearly 2 years, Nagaland Anime Junkies (NAJ) is back with the much anticipated Cosfest 2022. This year’s NAJ Cosfest 2022 was nothing short of a magical celebration that had us delve into a world of fantasy. It’s only fair to say that we were eager for a Cosfest. NAJ founder Biebe and the team have yet again outdone themselves. Everything was a vibe- the food, the weather, the stalls, and the awe-striking cosplayers. It was a sight to behold and maybe just for once, it made us forget our mundane lives. With the theme – ‘LIFE 2.0’, the 8th Annual NAJ Cosfest event was held in Kohima on the 9th and 10th of July. We witnessed an array of participants from across the state that competed in the grand show of cosplay craftsmanship and performance.   “We want to celebrate life, as we all move forward and rebuild our lives in the post-pandemic world.”- NAJ founders We spoke to …

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She Paints, She Crafts, and She Makes Funny Comics. Meet Jung Jathy from Nagaland

Interview by Kumti. Today’s guest is someone I have known since 2017. I met her while working on a festival project. A quiet and shy girl, and one of the most creative individuals – with excellent work ethic! She finally launched her own Insta art account called ‘Creatif by Jungjathy’ where she showcases her collection of creations – sketches in various formats, miniatures (one of my favs!), webtoons, idol/band illustrations, and more. I would like to introduce Imnajungla Jathy, or Jungjung – as most of us would like to call her. I have always been a distant admirer of her work ethic and creativity – and I, for sure would certainly trust her blindly if I needed help with any creative project. It was thus a pleasure to sit down with her today to chat about her work and more. Kumti: Hi Jung, please introduce yourself. Jung Jathy: Hi R&L fam, my name is Imnajungla Jathy, born and brought up in Kohima. An introverted extrovert who loves art, DIYs, designing, and anything arty-crafty. I am …

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She Turns Everyday Products Into Gorgeous Pieces of Art – Chat with Resin Artist Achila from Nagaland

2020, as we all know it, has taken a toll on all of us – and continues to restrict our life in new unexpected ways, even as we wind down another year. But today, I want to share a story about how this pandemic has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for some, as a part of our story series on ‘Covid Inspirations.‘ As I found myself in yet-another browsing sessions during the lockdowns, I came across a Youtube video of three quirky sisters from Nagaland – which I found pretty interesting. And as I dug deeper into their videos and story, I find out that one of the sisters runs a small creative corner on Instagram, called the ‘Nature Art Creativity.’  I was immediately blown away by an array of gorgeous resin art with intricate detailings made out of natural flowers, leaves, and what not! Most fascinating was the fact that all of this delicate artwork are actually things you can use in day-to-day life – like a comb, a soap case, …

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Chef Elna Yepthomi Talks About Her Journey From Nagaland to Australia & Her Love For Mixing Art With Food

Elna Yepthomi’s journey to becoming a chef at one of the well-known clubs in Canberra, Australia, is truly inspiring. According to Elna, much like any other art form, culinary art requires practice, sacrifice, and devotion. Originally from Nagaland, she studied Hotel Management in Kolkata and went on to learn cheffing at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Australia. Through her experiences with cooking, Elna has learned a great deal about life and art. In her pursuit of making a mark in the culinary world, she has developed an even deeper love for her Naga culture and food. “As a Naga chef and proud representative of the Nagas, I see the influence of my roots in my cooking. The majority of international chefs have little knowledge about our local ingredients. This gives me the opportunity to promote our Naga food here,” says Elna. We chat with Chef Elna Yepthomi from Nagaland to know more about her journey, how she incorporates her Naga culture into her work, and her experiences working as a chef in Australia.  R&L: …

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DJ Aloza (formerly known as ‘Zaza’) is Making Waves in Nagaland as the Hottest Female DJ in Town

DJ Aloza (formerly known as Zaza) was always into music, especially EDM and rap. This love translated into Deejaying, which she picked up back in 2013. Inspired by one of the first DJs from Nagaland – DJ Ina, Aloza finally picked this up after experimenting with various genres of music. She is now signed under the record label, InfinityInc from Nagaland. We chat with her to get an update on her music and more. R&L: Hi Aloza, nice to meet you again! Please introduce yourself to our new readers. DJ Aloza: Hi, I’m Aloza (I used to go by the name Zaza). I am from Kohima but currently live in Dimapur. I did my studies at Mount Hermon School, Kohima, and graduated from Patkai Christian College. I am a full-time DJ now. R&L: Tell us about your current work as a DJ. And what inspired you to become a DJ? DJ Aloza: My genre is Bass House and Hip Hop. I also sing and rap. I’m a big fan of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and …

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In Conversation With The Owners of The Newly-Launched Mughlai Kitchen in Dimapur

Looking at the lack of Indian cuisine restaurants in Dimapur, three childhood friends decided to open up their own Mughlai restaurant. Phanchamo Lotha, Abovi Achumi and Samuel Murry had always dreamt of working together on a business or a project. This dream materialized with the opening of this restaurant where the three of them came together to provide Mughalai delicacies to people at affordable prices.  We chatted with them to know about the restaurant. Don’t forget to drop by if you’re in or around Dimapur! Hello! It’s lovely to have you here. Please tell us about you and your team.  Hello, we are Phanchamo Lotha, Abovi Achumi & Samuel Murry. Abovi and I are in to business while our other partner, Samuel is a Govt. employee. As kids, we always had dreams of doing something together. After we finished our studies, we got the idea to open a comfort food restaurant. Our Chef is Sanjeev Dutta from NJP with experience in Mughlai cuisine. Tell us the motivation behind opening this restaurant! We opened this restaurant …

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‘We’ve Been Serving Mokokchung For Two Decades’ | A Chat With Eden Kichu – Owner of ‘The Restaurant’

Eden Kichu has been in the food and services industry for over two decades. What began as a humble restaurant with his family, has now become a popular meet-up place in Mokokchung. For years, Eden’s focus has been to offer quality food to the locals, coupled with their signature homely ambience. We spoke with Eden about his journey with entrepreneurship, the opening of another branch of his restaurant, and more.   Hello Eden, it’s lovely to have you here. Please introduce yourself to our readers!  Hi, my name is Eden Kichu. I was born and brought up in Mokokchung, a place I can call home. Growing up, I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and enjoy the thrills and flexibility. This inspired me to step into the food sector. It was challenging but I have been doing it for two decades now and I absolutely love it. What makes your restaurant special? We started off as a small family affair. My aunt and my sister started small by catering and doing small gatherings & offices. We …

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In Conversation with Beeshantam Yumnam, the Owner of Books & Coffee in Imphal

Sometimes all you need to unwind is a cup of coffee and a good book–that’s exactly what cafe Books & Coffee is offering locals in Imphal. Started by Beeshantam Yumnam, the cafe boasts of a cozy ambience and a great collection of books. Beeshantam’s love for books is mirrored in the cafe’s warm interiors, its rare collection of books and a welcoming environment for people of all ages. His vision of creating a space where people can relax, learn, enjoy and create art has materialized in the cafe. He says, “I hope people take home the feeling of relaxing in a cozy ambiance for chilling out and appreciation of the arts. Many customers praise us for giving a platform to arts and providing a wholesome experience. We hope to keep giving that experience!” Hello, please introduce yourself to our readers Hello, thanks for having me. I am Beeshantam Yumnam from Imphal, Manipur, a history graduate from Delhi University but an artist by passion. On returning home in 2010 after graduating, I realized that the types …

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#RECIPE | Manipuri Smoked Fish Curry Recipe by Kupatia Keishing

Weekends are the perfect time for family gatherings and dinners, and what better way to treat your loved ones than with a delicious meal? Today, we have Kupatia Keishing from Manipur, who will be sharing his simple and easy recipe for smoked fish curry. Simple to make, and easily one of our favorites go-to fish chutney/curry. INGREDIENTS Smoked fish Potatoes Onion Tomatoes Garlic Ginger Coriander leaves Cilantro leaves (Burma Dhania). Directions to Cook: Stir fry some finely chopped onions until they turn golden brown. Add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder. Add the chopped potatoes and fry for about 7 minutes with some green chilies (if necessary). Add tomato slices and roughly pounded garlic and stir fry for about 5 minutes, with a teaspoon full of chilly powder, and salt to taste. After a couple of minutes add water and ginger and let it boil for about 10 minutes. Take some pieces of potato and mash them to make a thick gravy. Add the finely cut or shredded pieces of smoked fish and cilantro leaves, …