All posts filed under: MIZORAM

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Candid Chat with Jay from Mizoram : 19-Year-Old Whose Rockstar Style and K-Pop Charisma Have Fans Swooning on Social Media

Small-town superstars from the northeast are a force to be reckoned with. Their individuality takes shape through various outlets – be it their fashion sense, art, music, or other forms of expression. It is truly remarkable to witness the interesting remixes that emerge out of limitations and boundaries found in smaller towns and villages, untouched by mainstream influences. While media exposure is now accessible to even the remotest parts of the world, it is refreshing to see how these young generations use this inspiration to create something that is uniquely their own. One such individual is Jay, a 19-year-old college student from Dinthar, a small town in Aizawl. With tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and thousands of fans eagerly anticipating his every post, he is a superstar in his own right. Jay’s charm lies in his boyish yet 80s rockstar look coupled with K-Pop idol cuteness. We first discovered him through a viral reel where he and his friends were filmed hanging out outside an unbothered institute in Aizawl. This feature on him …

Rootsandleisure_North east India musicians

A Song for Every Mood – Music and Musicians from North East India

  Over the weekend, we had a fun leisure chat with our readers, where we shared our current moods – in exchange for a song. By the end of the session, we had compiled a pretty good playlist of songs performed/written/composed by talented musicians from North East India. Scroll below to check out the list.  p.s: We have our weekly community chats on Instagram. Do visit for some fun. Also, remember to regularly check in on your friends – and ask how they are doing. “Very bad mood due to cramps” ~ @journalofhisdaughter Dedicating this song “Warrior’s Call” by Colored Keys Nagaland. Composed in two Naga dialects (Chakhesang and Angami) with a blend of tribal folk and contemporary western melody, this song is guaranteed to help you relax, and meditate. Breathe.    “Hopeful” ~ @ruchielal Play ‘Korou’ (meaning ‘Sunlight’ in Manipuri) by June Neelu Ft B.Maisnam from Manipur. A song about the beauty of nature… the sunrise, dews, birds, wind, and the mountains, this has been our go-to video for afternoon daydreaming and endless optimism. …

Rootsandleisure_standup comic from Northeast India

These Hilarious Folks from North East India are Bringing Comedy to Social Media

People who crack you up are the best kind of people, it turns any gloomy day bright and adds a dose of happiness to our otherwise dull day. Humor is something that needs appreciation and acknowledgment today more than ever. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into making these videos and all for laughs. Be it dropping truth bombs in the 5-second reel or taking relatable situations to a whole new level of fun, local comic artists across the country are making the best of the social media platforms to find their own audience – and vice versa. Today, we chat with some super talented and hilarious folks from North East India whose unique humor isn’t just funny but also gives a very refreshing glimpse into their local ways of life. Meet the very talented Millo Sunka from Arunachal Pradesh – a genius comic who can bring out the hilarity of regular people from her hometown folks to Bangaloreans.Millo Sunka, Actor from Arunachal Pradesh   For all those who have watched the movie …

Rootsandleisure_Mizo Puan_Zo Weave

We are Smitten by These Handwoven Mizo Puans (Mekhela) and Naupuakpuan ‘Baby Sling Wraps’ from ‘Zo Weave’ | Chat with Founder Malsawmi from Aizawl

  A striking thing about Mizo womenfolks – including the young fashion-forward ones, is the fact they love flaunting their ‘Mizo Puans’ which are traditional handwoven wraparounds (Mekhalas). Most interesting is the way how the younger generation is uplifting their traditional attire by incorporating them as fashion statement pieces – and inspiring many to copy the trend. All that being said, we are extremely excited to be chatting with Malsawmi, founder of ‘Zo Weave’ – a handwoven Puan brand from Mizoram. This mother of four is doing her bit to reinforce the efforts in the preservation of the Puan – while also employing local women weavers through this initiative. We talk about how ‘Zo Weave’ is keeping the love for Puans alive through her growing customer base – young and old. Another interesting revelation is on how she is reinventing the humble traditional Mizo ‘Naupuakpuan’ (baby Sling wrap) by incorporating modern floral designs and motifs (all handwoven) and is another hot selling item under her brand.  Malsawmi, founder of ‘Zo Weave’ Mizoram holding her child …

‘My Followers Inspired Me to Publish My First Book’ – Rodingpuii, a Self-Published Poet from Mizoram

Rodingpuii is a self-published poet from Mizoram who became a household name, in her home state, because of her raw and beautiful poems on Instagram. Her popularity on social media led to the publishing of her first book, an anthology of 200 poems, ‘Secondhand Scars’ which was a self-funded project and whose first 500+ copies published, were sold out within the first five days. We sat down with this talented woman to discuss her life and what the success of Secondhand Scars means to her as a poet and as a person.  Hi there, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Rodingpuii, from Mizoram. I am currently pursuing my Masters in English from Pondicherry University. I have a page on Instagram where I write poetry under the name ‘RDP’ and have recently published a poetry book ‘Secondhand Scars’. Introduce us to your work. What exactly do you do and why? My work as a whole, for lack of better specification, would fall under ‘Poetry’. I take delight in expressing …

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Recipe of Mizoram’s Favourite Dish ‘Bai’ – Made With The Stalks Of Cauliflower | by Priya Iyer

Have you heard of a dish called ‘Bai’? “Bai is a kind of soup that hails from the exotic state of Mizoram. The state boasts of a number of indigenous leafy greens, many of which are unheard of and several of these greens are used in preparing Bai. Whatever vegetables are in season, find their way into Bai. Commonly used ingredients in Mizo kitchens like the king chilly, fermented mustard, are also used in making this soup. Today our friend Priya from Bangalore is going to show us her version of vegetarian Bai – made with stalks of Cauliflower. “If it is being served to non-vegetarians, pork sauce can be added. Bai is simple to prepare and very nutritious.” says Priya Recipe of Mizoram’s favourite dish, “Bai” – made with stalks of Cauliflower | contributed by Priya Iyer Ingredients : Water (5-6 cups) Baking soda (1/2 tbsp) Finely chopped cauliflower stalks + leaves + florets (2 cups) Beans (5-6 finely chopped) Potato (1) – peeled and finely chopped Green chillies (4, slit length-wise) Cooked rice …

K V Paradise: The Taj Mahal of Mizoram – By Dipalay Dey From Assam

“Having spent 18 years in Mizoram, Aizawl holds a very special place in my heart and the city continues to mesmerize me. There are many wonders situated around this beautiful capital city and one of them is the “K V Paradise”. K V Paradise is a symbol of love and affection which was built by a loving husband in memory of his beloved wife. On my last visit to Aizawl, I had planned to explore this beauty to see the richness of love that the monument holds. We all know about “Taj Mahal” which is considered the symbol of love by many. K V Paradise is also considered as Taj Mahal of Mizoram and it symbolizes love as well. Situated at a hilltop in Durtlang near Aizawl city (approximately 10 kms away from city), K V paradise was built in the memory of Mrs. Rosangpui Varte who died in a tragic road accident in 2001. The monument was completed around the year 2006 and it’s a two-storey structure where the ground floor contains the erected …

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“Watching These Kids Play Outside Gave Me So Much Joy And Took Me Back To My School Days” ~ Nunthara From Mizoram

“This was just outside my house at Tuikual South, Aizawl. The neighborhood kids were out to play after school. They were so engrossed to play with each other and here, the two kids standing on top were blowing bubbles and the kids down there were trying to pop those bubbles. As I captured this moment, I felt that the joy these innocent kids had was not an exotic thing but instead a very simple one. It made me think to appreciate even a small thing in life. ~ V.L. Nunthara from Mizoram The neighbor kids engrossed with their games | Photo captured by Nunthara

rootsandleisure_visittomizoram

“My First Visit To Mizoram And The Place Has Already Captured My Heart” – Suraj Kumar Nath From Assam

It was my first visit to Mizoram and the place has already captured my heart! For me, it was one of the best place in the North-east of India. People are warm and nice, well cultured and I find the capital, Aizawl, as a very disciplined city – especially how the locals follow the traffic rules was impressive. And not to forget, the street food there was amazing too! Although, communicating with the local taxi drivers was a little difficult because of language barrier.  We were 8 college friends and came from Silchar Assam to take this trip. The photo was taken at the viewpoint of Reiek Tlang, one of the hills located just outside Aizawl (about 12 kms away) and is a popular destination for adventure seekers. The view surrounding the hill is breathtaking and makes the visit worthwhile. It was raining in the morning while we were in the capital but luckily when we reached the top of the hill, it stopped and the weather was just pleasant and perfect. The fog left too …

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Meet The Members Of ‘Re-Creatorz Crew’, Dance Group Based In New Delhi

Over the past few years, k-pop has been a major influence and inspiration for the young boys and girls across the globe, including our very own country. Today, we have a dance group that goes by the name, “Re-creatorz Crew” formed in the year 2017. The members come together from different places but currently, they are based in New Delhi. The crew comprises of seven talented members, four boys and three girls. They were the runner-up in the K-pop fest, 2018 which was held at the capital and they are working even harder this year to bring home the winning title. Let’s find out more! We had a chat with the members of the dance group, ‘Re-creatorz Crew’ to talk about their group and how they got together, etc. Thank you for joining us! Please introduce your group to our readers. Hi! We are Re-creatorz Crew – dance group based in New Delhi, comprising of seven members – four boys and three girls.  I’m Sam rz, 22 years of age and the founder of our …