Month: July 2018

RootsandLeisure_Tokaholi Chishi

The Serious & Soulful Singer/Songwriter from Nagaland – Tokaholi Chishi

Gifted with a flair to write verses and compose melodies, Tokaholi Chishi, is a musician with perfervid passion whose narratives resonate a perfect  balance of singing and story-telling.  We had a chat with Tokaholi to talk about her love for music, her life, and her roots. Hello! Could you tell us briefly about yourself? My name is Tokaholi Chishi and I live in Dimapur. I write songs and I play the acoustic guitar (albeit not very skilfully) , I try to voice out my passion in undulating tunes, just like life- some times high, some times low! What is your process when it comes to composing songs and what kind of genre do you prefer? I like to write, whether it is poetry or a story. I  add melody and soul as mediums to communicate and connect with the listeners. Music serves as a great tool to tell stories, that’s my primary goal and when it comes to a genre there is no fixed style. (independent music would hopefully fit the bill).   When did …

rootsandleisure_faces

I Stopped to Admire How These Kids were Lost in Their Own World of Happiness” Vivas Anand from Darjeeling

“It was a beautiful cold evening as I strolled leisurely through Mall Road in Darjeeling – with a camera in hand and trying to soak in the flavors of the area. Evenings here are always crowded and has a busy ambiance. As I continued to walk, I came across this family with two kids on a bench, and I was instantly drawn. I couldn’t walk past without capturing them – and that happy moment of theirs; so I took out my camera and took this photo. Nothing extraordinary about this picture, but I was pleasantly taken aback by the simplicity of the moment and how they were lost in their own world of happiness. I just loved how they were thoroughly enjoying their munchy snack – and so mindfully at that. In this busy world we live in, it’s hard to be satisfied with what we have, and these kids somehow reminded me of that by showing a contrasting picture where it didn’t cost them much – but looked immensely satisfied. Everything was transparent and it was beautiful the way it was in front …

rootsandeisure-Barun Bordoloi

21 Year Old Photographer cum Graphic Artist Likes Mixing Real and Fictional Worlds into His Art | Meet Barun Bordoloi from Assam

Thomas Merton rightly said,  “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” With this, Barun Bordoloi from Assam who describes himself as an introvert and an awkward 21-year-old found comfort in a world where the art of photography and graphic designing enabled him to re-create, re-imagine, and repaint a world of his own. We chat with this young creative talent – Barun Bordoloi, a self-taught photographer and a colorful graphic designer with dreams that are larger than life – just like his colorful works of art. Hi Barun, tell us a little bit about yourself. Hi, I’m Barun Bordoloi from Guwahati, Assam. I am 21 years old and currently an undergrad student (B. com) I love to invest my time in learning and perfecting my photography skills, and also graphic designing.  What do you do full-time? and tell us more about your hobby. I am a full-time student and also a freelance graphic designer for Karate Association of India. I love to CREATE. I love playing with pictures and creating a different …

rootsandleisure_recipe

Recipe of “Uti Thongba” Manipur’s Favorite Vegetarian Dish – Contributed by Tushar

No grand feast in Manipur is complete without ‘Uti thongba.’ Uti thongba is a classic manipuri vegetarian dish and there is a variety of how the locals cook and it is enjoyed as a main dish or even a side dish with your favourite meat curry . Today our contributor Tushar from Manipur shares his favorite type of Uti Thongba called ‘Usoi Mangan uti’ (Whole grain with fresh bamboo shoot uti). Read on to find out how to make it! Cooking time: 40-50 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups of overnight soaked dry peas 1 cup of sliced bamboo shoots 2-3 tbs of mustard oil 1 tsp fenugreek seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 4 green chilies 1 bay leaf 1 and a half serving spoons of chopped chives 1 and a half serving spoons of chopped winter leek 3/4 tsp of salt 3/4 tsp of sodium bicarbonate. Ingredients: Clockwise(L-R) Sliced fresh bamboo shoot, chopped chives, and Overnight soaked dry peas Clockwise (Top R-L) Bay leaf, Cumin seeds, Green chilies, oil, Sodium bicarbonate and salt Directions to cook : Heat …

RootsandLeisure_Artist_Temsuyanger Longkumer

Meet Temsuyanger Longkumer – London Based Multimedia Artist from Nagaland, as He Talks About His Naga Roots and The Art Scene in London

“A tree without roots is just a piece of wood.”  This quote by famous chef Marco Pierre has got us thinking, and we have to admit that there’s indeed a lot of truth to that. Especially at a time and space where creators/artists are trying to outdo each other with new ideas – often with borrowed inspirations that are aplenty. We love creativity of all sorts – no doubt. But the ones that are truly going to stand out and leave an impression are the original works of art – whose ideas come from a place that is pure and deep rooted in the creator’s own origins. That being said, we are truly excited to meet with one such artist from Nagaland – Temsuyanger Longkumer, a multimedia artist based out of London, whose original works of art – mostly created with inspirations from his Naga roots are enchanting London art lovers. This year in April, he held a solo exhibition “QUINTETTE” at the Standpoint Gallery, London; and his work ‘Tattooed Memory’ was recently acquired by the …

rootsandleisure_pari

This Self-Taught Baker Takes Inspiration from Nature and Her Assamese Roots to Paint Art into Her Cakes and Bakes – Meet Pari Hazarika “The Baker Girl”

  Food holds a special place in our hearts – for so many different reasons. For those of us who are away from home, it reminds us of our home and our folks back home; for some, there are memories attached to some special treats – and for most, we simply love to eat as nothing comes close to the feeling of comfort that only good food can provide.  Our guest today from Assam – Pari Hazarika, who goes by the name “The Baker Girl”, also shares a special bond with food. It was during some trying times in her life that she went back to her love for baking and painting – as a way to nourish both her body and soul. Growing up, she used to love watching baking shows on TV and practicing her cooking skills back at home in Assam. So going back to her childhood love helped heal her, and sparked a new excitement in her life. So here we are, with Pari “The Baker Girl” from Assam, as we chat …

rootsandleisure_mj jamir

A Chat With Moajungla Jamir From Nagaland – The Girl Whose Cover Song for “Coat of Many Colors” Went Viral

Heinrich Heine rightly quoted, “Where words leave off, music begins.” Imagine a life without music! Thanks to those people, who time and again delivers us with good music to balance out our life in this mad frenzy world. Speaking of which, Nagaland has its own set of budding raw talents that keeps surprising us every now and then. Today we have a special guest, a naturally talented musician, and a humble soul – Moajungla Jamir from Nagaland, who took the internet by storm two years ago, when a video of her singing “Coat of many colors” by Dolly Parton went viral. We sat down with her to find out what she’s been up to, her musical journey so far and what she hopes people take away from her music. It’s a beautiful one… read on to find out. Hi Moajung, tell us something about yourself and what you’ve been up to. My name is Moajungla Jamir and I am 22 years old from Dimapur. I am the youngest in the family, living with my mother alone …

Rootsandleisure_Faces_Sikkim

“Watching my Neighbourhood Change Through a Sad Yet Memorable Photo” Smyrna Samten from Sikkim

  “I grew up in this neighborhood “Daragaon” in Sikkim. Out here, it can get really hot during summers – and especially grueling, when you have to climb the many stairs along the way in this area. So I often used to take shade under the trees on the sides while climbing up the long stairs. Even when tired, the beautiful staircase with the greenery used to be really soothing and beautiful to look at. Especially a sight to admire when it rains, as the stairs are swept clean and the trees shine with health from the raindrops. I have actually taken tons of pictures of this beautiful walkway over the years (old photo at the bottom). So it was a really sad day when I took this particular picture below. I was walking home through the same walkway and I found trees chopped and the trunks laid aside like dead bodies so I clicked it. The man in the picture was loading them into his truck. Amidst my sadness, and as I walked up the steps, it …

Rootsandleisure_fashion

Young Fashionable Folks Share What’s Trending in the Local Fashion Scene in Nagaland

If you ask the people in Nagaland to pick which one is more important – feeling good versus looking good, very likely that the responses will be equally divided for both for most folks. Reflecting the general attitude towards dressing up  – with an added premium to personal style and comfort, you will see a variety of trends and trendy painting the outdoors and indoors of Nagaland. We wanted to take you guys into the streets of Nagaland to give a quick glimpse into the local fashion scene, so our contributor reached out to seven of her friends to give us an insight into what they are wearing, and what’s trending in their neighborhood.  Arenzung, 28 from Dimapur looking chic and summer-ready with a classic white button-down shirt, beige cotton skirt, and comfy flats. Her statement accessories and tote bag in matching colors compliments her look to the T. Tote bags are hot items in Nagaland this season, so get yourself one too! Shop Here “Thanks to social media, fashion inspiration to actually wearing the latest trends is almost …

Find Out Why Locals in Nagaland Love Trekking to “Pulie Badze” in Jotsoma Village, Kohima

Weekend is here and we recommend taking some time off  from the digital world, and escape into to the real world outside. Plan a mini trip to get away from your daily routine, noisy traffic, and social media. If you’re wondering where to go, we recommend visiting the much-hyped trekking hotspot in Kohima – “Pulie Badze.” This local hotspot in Nagaland is an excellent place to enjoy some peace and quiet while surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Read on to know more about this local hotspot in Nagaland. Pulie Badze is located just a few kilometers away from Jotsoma village in the Kohima district (approximately 10 km from Kohima). The area is known for its legendary story, as well as its stunning elevated location, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. The trek to the hilltop is also pleasant, making for a blissful outing for visitors who come to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Legend has it that Pulie Badze is named after a brave farmer named ‘Pulie,’ who died while attempting …