Month: April 2018

Recipe | Naga Traditional Method to Make Steamed Sticky Rice and Axone Chutney

Published by Lidang

If you are travelling to Nagaland in the Northeast of India, and trying out local cuisine is your top priority, do not forget to taste the traditionally cooked “Sticky rice.” Sometimes eaten as a substitute for regular rice, it is also quite popular in Nagaland as an afternoon snack/mid-day meal. With the relatively earlier sunrise and super early breakfasts in this part of the country, a plate of sticky rice with some axone (akhuni) chutney on the side and a hot cup of tea is indeed a delightful treat. Sticky rice puris are also very popular as noonday snacks with hot tea [Recipe here] Our R&L contributor Lidang takes us to her kitchen to show us how their family cooks sticky rice and the very popular axone chutney (fermented soybean chutney). Full recipe and video below: Ingredients for Steamed Sticky Rice 1 kg of Sticky rice soaked overnight 2 types of pots: earthen pot with small holes at the bottom (like a momo steamer) and an aluminum pot (both medium sized) 2-3 banana leaves Some newspapers (to connect the two vessels together – one top of …

Faces | Life of a College Student in Nagaland by Chovoni Lophro

Published by Roots & Leisure

“This photo was taken as part of a promotional campaign for my college, Model Christian College. Although I don’t remember the name of the professional photographer, we took over 30 shots to get this one perfect shot! 😂” “Hello, I’m Chovoni Lophro, a 19-year-old 3rd-semester student at Model Christian College in Nagaland, majoring in Political Science, which has always been my favorite subject. I’ve been a part of the same institution throughout my education, starting from Model Higher Secondary School, where I studied from grade A until my 12th. After that, I joined Model Christian College, which is also part of the same institution. As a college student, my days are quite busy with a set routine. I have classes every day from 9:40 am to 3:20 pm, which doesn’t leave me much time to help my mom in the mornings. In the evenings, I usually keep myself busy with my studies. However, during my free time, I enjoy doing what I love, such as reading, gaming (my favorite is Mobile Legends), dancing, singing, and …

Another Musical Talent from Northeast India You Need to Follow – Meet Vocal Artist Thunglamo Ngullie from Nagaland

Published by Tiarenla

Music and Musicians, you will find aplenty in Northeast India; it’s a huge part of their lives, and most of the artists are genuinely talented and passionate – which is the reason why we just can’t stop writing (or talking!) about them! Trust us, we have merely scratched the surface of what is a goldmine of creative talents in this part of the world. Today, we introduce you guys to Thunglamo Ngullie, a 27 year old dynamic and versatile solo artist from Nagaland. A hardcore music lover, trained musician, Naga Idol Runner Up and now a Vocal Trainer. Here’s a chat with the talented young man to talk about his musical journey in this remote part of the country, and how he got to perform in several parts of the world – including China and South Korea! Hi Thungla, tell us about yourself and your musical journey so far. I’m originally from Wokha district, and now I am based in Dimapur. I graduated from Unity College Dimapur; I’m now a full time musician, and also work as …

A Chat with the Owners of Forage Cafe in Manipur – Your Destination for Local Food and Mediterranean Cuisine

Published by Kumti

“We chose these cuisines out of our own preference as well as with the consideration that we can make healthful hearty food using fresh ingredients and traditional techniques avoiding artificial flavors and condiments.” The hunt for delectable cuisines never stops; even better when it doesn’t compromise with our health. True to its name, Forage, here’s this lovely couple, Korou Khundrakpam and Kundo Yumnam, from Imphal that after much quest and research, came up with this aesthetically pleasant restaurant that not only serves different kinds of food with a local twist, but also teaches the benefits of healthy and sustainable living through the items and things used in their restaurant. Hi, would you like to tell us a bit about yourselves? We are a couple, Korou Khundrakpam and Kundo Yumnam, from Imphal. We were professionally trained in Fine Arts and we saw our creative pursuits lead us from Delhi to Imphal and from paintings to food! Tell us a bit about the restaurant and when was it launched? After trading our arts practice in Delhi for …

‘Just A Venue’ in Mokokchung Village in Nagaland is Your Ultimate Holiday Getaway

Published by Kumti

Small towns in the far North East of India are prepping themselves to becoming one of the top travel destinations. Every nook and corner of this part of the country has so much to offer, it is hard for the team to keep up but the joy of exploring new places everyday is becoming an exciting adventure! Today our local contributor takes us to a piece of heaven in the small town of Mokokchung, in Nagaland. Known for their cleanliness and friendly ambience, a walk in the town guarantees that your happiness quotient will rise substantially. Beyond that, the town has so much to offer with relaxation spots that are popping up every day – with most of them promising to ease your stress in ways they know best – by offering a healthy mix of nature, calm and happiness. “Just A Venue (JAV)” nestled cosily in the beautiful hills of Mokokchung Village provides an ideal retreat for tourists and locals alike. You will find happy people, fertile farmlands, friendly village ladies and giggling, mischievous kids. Swimming …

Faces | ‘Memories of My Childhood Home in Nagaland’ by Elika Awomi

Published by Elika Awomi

“This is a bird’s-eye view of the house I grew up in Kohima, Nagaland. Just looking at this picture brings back a flood of beautiful childhood memories, like stealing unripe fruits (especially peaches and plums), enjoying tree swings, playing outside with friends in the backyard over our mini kitchen, garden camping, Christmas and New Year’s Eve bonfires, making doll houses, and basking in the winter sun. I also fondly remember rainy days when we would gather in the front porch and play Five Stones or Carom. On Sundays after church or Sunday school, the outside area would be packed with us kids playing Seven Stones, Hide and Seek, and more. Reliving these moments always makes me feel like a happy kid again! 😊” ~ Elika Awomi, Food lover and Jewelry maker

Here’s What Fashionable Working Professionals Wear in Nagaland

Published by Tiarenla

In Nagaland, in fact in most parts of North East India, “Fashion” is as trendy as it can get in an average person’s regular life. People out here are impeccably dressed – not just on occasions, but almost every day. For young and old alike, looking good is a prerogative, and sensible dressing aesthetics come naturally. In the spirit of celebrating good taste and our mission to give a glimpse into the local life – untouched and true, our latest contributor Tiarenla curates her most stylish friends to give us a taste of what Fashion means to working folks in Nagaland. Sashila Ozükum | Administrator, Hope Academy, Dimapur Sashila’s style (photo above) is simple, elegant and classy. She believes that the way we dress says a lot about us. “I would like to come across as a smart, confident woman and my style helps me put that across. Workwear for me is semi formal attire – comprising mainly of dresses and skirts. I don’t have a particular place that I shop from, or favourite brands as such; however, I am biased …

An Honest Chat With The Founders of Sorshia & Co. Cafe From Kohima, Nagaland

Published by Asmita Das

A cafe filled with love for culture, food and design, the founders Arinaro and Wungchipem are here to talk about their cafe Sorshia & Co. Located in the beautiful and silent hills of Kohima, Nagaland, this cafe has a very distinct “Kohima feels” and their taste of design can be seen in the interiors of the cafe. We are also excited about the prospect of the cafe culture picking up in Kohima as it exists in Dimapur – which is the current hub of cafes and lounges in Nagaland. Here’s a brief chat with the owners – Arinaro and Wungchipem to tell us the story behind Sorshia & Co. and what to expect from the cafe. Please introduce yourself and your latest venture together 🙂 Wungchipem : Sorshia & Co. is co-owned by the two of us, and we both live in Kohima. Ari and I come from very different backgrounds in terms of our education, influences, interests and our line of work but our love for food, designs and cafés motivated us to start this project …

An Interaction with Basuri Choksi, the Interior Designer-turned-Artist from Ahmedabad

Published by Kumti

Today, we have Basuri Choksi – an Interior Designer-turned-Artist who shares her journey with the Roots and Leisure from Ahmedabad on how she breathes life on any canvas that is given to her. Here’s a quick conversation with the lady behind the artworks who is not afraid to play with different types of shades delivering notable effects. Hello, Basuri! Would you like to tell a bit about yourself, where you’re from and what you’ve been up to? I’m an Interior Designer-turned-Artist. Since childhood, I have always been inclined towards art but only figured my true calling for it in 2012 while I was practicing interiors. Within a year, I was sure I don’t want to do anything but paint! Since then, I have been painting and learning new techniques on my own. Introduce us to your work. What got you started? I work with acrylics on canvas, wood and other surfaces. I also do murals. The freedom of expression that a blank canvas gives to an artist, got me started. It also has been a …

Longwa Village in Nagaland Might Be Your Best Bet for a Quiet and Enriching Getaway

Published by Kumti

One of the coolest things to do right now if you are looking to refresh your mind or just plain bored of the usual stuff on social media – is to go and visit a village and experience Mother Nature and her folks in the purest form. Having said that, there are tons of beautiful villages in every corner of Nagaland, in the Northeast region of India, and our local friends recommend visiting Longwa village in the district of Mon in Nagaland. With just around 600 households, Longwa village promises to be a quiet getaway while also enriching you with their rich historical and natural offerings. It is said that there are only 7 Chief Anghs (a ruler; sole authority of a village) in Mon district and Longwa is one of them that proudly has a Chief. Here are some local information about the place, it’s people and their food. This village shares borders with Burma and India An interesting thing about Longwa is that, it is located on the borders of Myanmar and India. The Chief’s place also …