Month: May 2018

Rootsandleisure_Orentsani Kikon

Meet Naga Yogini Orentsani Kikon from Nagaland – Certified Yoga Instructor and a Fitness Inspiration for Many

Fitness is fast becoming a hot topic in Nagaland – with the young and old alike suddenly waking up to a healthy lifestyle. You can see a lot of local folks going out for a jog in the early hours, fitness centres and gyms opening doors in various parts of the state and conversations about fitness popping up during conversations over locally made green tea. Amidst this new wave, yoga and pilates are soon becoming hot topics of conversation – and has sparked a curiosity among the fitness enthusiasts. Being a recent trend, yoga is still a mysterious activity that the world seem to be obsessed with –  for folks out here. Trust the youths to throw light into anything that’s trending and ought to be explored.  Miss Orenstani Kikon, known as the Naga yogini is on a mission to share her passion, and with that, the benefits of Yoga with the local folks in Nagaland. We chat with her to know more about her journey and the initiatives she has set up in her hometown to enlighten the …

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This Talented Pianist Wants to Enlighten Us on Naga Folk Music and Ethnomusicology | Meet Jaremdi from Nagaland

Music is food for the soul, so they say – and the Nagas are no doubt among the lucky ones who are blessed and with an innate and exceptional talent in this field. There’s a musician in almost every household in this part of the country but talent alone does not guarantee success; it needs to be backed sufficiently with persistence and a strong entrepreneurial drive to create a successful music career. Today we chat with one such lady who has all qualities that can potentially carve an enthralling musical career. Say hi to Jaremdi Wati Longchar from Nagaland, a seasoned pianist, who is working passionately towards a career in ethnomusicology. Hi Jaremdi, tell us something about yourself- your background and your musical journey Hi, I am 29 years old and I am currently based in Dimapur. However, I’ve lived half of my life in Kohima as well, so, I consider myself both a Dimapur and a Kohima girl.I am currently working towards building a career in ethnomusicology, which is basically the study of music in …

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Faces | Mizo Ladies Wearing Traditional “Puan” Wraparound Skirt to a Wedding in Aizawl

“This photo was taken before we headed off to a friend’s wedding in Aizawl, Mizoram. We absolutely love dressing up for weddings, especially in our traditional attire. In the picture, we are wearing “Puan,” which is a traditional Mizo wrap-around skirt, usually handwoven by local weavers. Nowadays, there are many designs and patterns available, so it’s exciting to explore the options. We paired the Puan with formal tops. The tops we are wearing in the photo were designed and made by my best friend and fashion designer, Rini Hlondo (standing on the left, wearing a mint green Puan). The Puan I’m wearing is by Chawndeng Handloom😊” ~ Rebecca Lalthanpuii, Founder of Lush Contouring, Beauty clinic specializing in microblading and lash extensions. Rebecca Lalthanpuii (on the right), founder of Lush Contouring, posing with her designer friend Rini Hlondo (on the left), owner of the Rini Hlondo label.

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Trekking and Sunset Lovers, Head to the Laitlum Canyons in Meghalaya in the Northeast of India

If you are looking for a place to escape to, so that you can “start afresh”, then backpacking to the Northeast of India may be one of the best options out there. As it also happens to be one of the coolest places to be right now, you may as well stop your search right here, and start planning your one-of-a-kind trip! Our local guides of Roots and Leisure helps you explore the most happening local hotspots in the region so be assured that we’ll fill you in sufficiently with all the exclusive and local info. Today, our contributor Mahna Slong from Shillong takes us to the Laitlum Canyons in Meghlaya. Laitlum means “End of hills” and is a must visit if you wish to get a taste of what the region has to offer  beyond the sturdy hills that defines the region.  Mahna enjoying her hot cup of tea and the picturesque view of the Laitlum Canyons About the Laitlum canyons, Meghalaya by Mahna “The mountain and the hills have their way of challenging me so that I can …

Recipe | Nagaland Chutney Made of Banana Blossoms

  A Naga meal without a chutney can never make for a complete meal. That said, let us show you to make a special chutney made with banana blossom.  Ingredients 2 banana blossoms(chopped and washed) One large tomato One large onion 1 ghost pepper or 3-5 green chillies(based on your preference) 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder 1 teaspoon chilli powder 1 tbsp oil Ingredients of the banana flower chutney (clockwise from left: chopped tomatoes, green chillies, finely chopped banana blossoms and chopped onions) Directions to cook Remove the first few layers of the banana blossom and chop the rest into fine pieces. Chop onions, chillies and tomatoes into thin slices Heat oil in a pan and sauté the onions. Now put the chopped tomatoes and chillies and stir fry for 5 minutes in medium flame Add the turmeric powder and chilli powder Once the oil separates, add the banana blossoms. Cook with lid on till it’s soft and tender. Once soft, remove the lid and cook till the water dries. Voila, your banana blossom chutney is …

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Meet These Self-Taught Jewelry Makers from Nagaland

Remember Aben of “Aben Jewellery” – one of our first guests on Roots and Leisure? Thanks to people like her who has inspired many to follow her footstep and take up jewelry-making as a serious hobby and eventually turning it into a full blown venture from home. Over the last 2 years, we have seen hundreds of people joining this creative force to produce new forms of art in the form of handmade jewellery. Today our contributor Tiaren profiles some of them to understand the motivation behind their creative journey – and to take a peek into their collection. “After talking to some of my friends who have taken up jewellery-making as a hobby, I realize that one of the main motivations is to turn their innate talent and interest in creative art, from a hobby to now a means of financial security. It’s super inspiring to see how these talented determined individuals are taking their passion to the world by nurturing their love of all things local – especially their aesthetics taste, which can range from eccentric to minimalistic to over the top! …

Recipe of Mixed Vegetable Dish from Nagaland “Rosep Aon”

Although Naga cuisine is often known for its non-vegetarian delicacies, it’s worth noting that the region boasts a diverse and healthy selection of vegetables as well. Vegetables are often an essential component of Naga meals, with a variety of preparations such as raw, steamed, boiled, blanched, and more. Today’s recipe highlights one such popular mixed vegetable dish, “Rosep Aon,” which is a specialty of the Ao tribe in Nagaland. This dish is slow-cooked with a blend of local vegetables and bamboo shoot juice, resulting in a unique and flavorful dish. Mixed vegetable dish, “Rosep Aon,” which is a specialty of the Ao tribe in Nagaland Ingredients: 500 gms of young furled taro leaves (of the Colocasia plant) 250 gms of Mejanga/Sichuan pepper leaves 100-200 gms of bitter eggplant (“Likok” in Ao dialect) 1 cup of bamboo shoot juice 10-15 green chilies – split vertically into 2 each Some dried fish for flavor A handful of garlic chives for garnish (optional) Salt to Taste Water as required  Young furled taro leaves (photo below)  Mejanga/Sichuan pepper leaves (Photo …

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Fashion Designer Lusano Zakiesato Gives a Modern Twist to Naga Traditional Symbols with Her Spring Summer Collection 2018

No doubt that Northeast India has some of the most creative talents and yet, the most intriguing part is their originality – so pure and raw – and often tells a story that is deeply linked to their roots, that they are most proud of. This storytelling coupled with unique designs that makes your heart flutter and inspires you enough to wear their creations – or create one of your own – with your own story weaved into them. These are the things that has a strong presence in this Spring Summer 2018 collection by Lusano Zakiesato, a fashion designer from Nagaland. This petite designer has come a long way since her first collection in 2014. “My latest  collection is a modern take on Nagaland inspired details on everyday comfortable casuals for summers” says the designer. Here she showcases her SS18 collection, that brings to life an intricate dream that can only be made in the local heaven of Nagaland. “I’ve been studying and seeing some amazing traditional inspired designs created by our very own local designers from …

RootsandLeisure_Chicken with colocasia

Naga Recipe | Chicken with Dried Colocasia Leaves and Fresh Bamboo Shoot

  A hearty Naga meal would consist of cooked rice, some boiled vegetables (fresh from your/your neighbour’s kitchen garden), hot chutney and of course meat! We love our pork, but chicken is a favourite too. We just make sure that it has the right mix of local herbs and spices to get that authentic Naga flavor irrespective of what the main ingredient is. Today we have a special chicken recipe from Lidang’s kitchen – made with dried Colocasia Leaves and our favourite ingredient: the bamboo shoot. Super easy to make (as long as you can get your hands on these local spices), and mouth-wateringly delicious!Full recipe below 🙂 Ingredients: Chicken-250 gm  Handful of dried colocasia leaves  2-3 tablespoon of fresh bamboo shoots  Green chillies as per taste Ginger Salt to taste 2 cups of water Ingredients (clockwise from Left) : Dried colocasia leaves, fresh bamboo shoot, sliced ginger, Green chillies Preparation (5mins) Wash all the ingredients throughly Slit the chillies into two, and keep aside Cut the ginger into thin slices and keep aside Directions to Cook (30 …

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World Traveller E Jey Shares His Story About His Visit to Dimapur, Nagaland

Traveling to Northeast India is always a memorable one; it’s one of those experiences that you keep sharing with the folks around you. So this post comes from one of our readers – E Jey, who wanted to share his travel story to Dimapur, Nagaland with the Roots and Leisure community. E Jey is an avid traveller and runs his own travel blog called “Jaunt Monkey”, which he says is a lifestyle that developed over years of travelling across the globe. He has been to 19 countries -including Nepal, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia,Uganda and more. How I landed in Dimapur Nagaland It was on a bright sunny day that I started my trip to Nagaland. I had just one thing on my mind – which was to be a part of the Hornbill Festival, the cultural extravaganza that is held every December (usually 1st to 10th) in Nagaland. Starting from Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, my friends and I travelled more than 3000 kilometers to reach Nagaland. Not only did the journey brought me closer to experiencing their culture …