Author: Roots & Leisure

Rootsandleisure_Vareyar Rimai

A Fun Chat with 19-Year-Old Vareyar Rimai from Manipur on Personal Style and Music

Published by Roots & Leisure

At R&L, we are always on the lookout for individuals and stories that capture the essence of Northeast India. Recently, we had the pleasure of discovering Vareyar Rimai, a 19-year-old aspiring musician from Ukhrul, Manipur, whose unique sense of fashion piqued our interest. In this fun chat, we delve into Vareyar’s personal style and get to know him better. We also want to take this opportunity to remind our readers that Roots & Leisure is alive! ๐Ÿ™‚ We owe it all to the amazing community we’ve built, which continues to connect us with fascinating people who have stories to share. So stay tuned for more inspiring content and let’s continue to celebrate the authentic Northeast way of life! R&L: Hi Rimai, please introduce yourself Vareyar Rimai: Hi ๐Ÿ‘‹ My name is Vareyar Rimai. I’m 19 years old and an aspiring musician. I currently stay in Ukhrul, Manipur. R&L: and who is your favorite musician from the Northeast? Vareyar Rimai: Northeast has many great musicians. Ruata Renthlei, the guitarist for Avora Records is one of my …

Rootsandleisure-hornbill festival-nagaland-2022

Preserving Memories | Snapshots from Hornbill Festival Nagaland 2022

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Some of our friends were lucky enough to attend the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland in December 2022. The festival week was a vivid display of the state’s rich culture and heritage, and the chilly weather in Kohima only added to the overall experience. As they walked around the traditional huts, or “morungs,” of each tribe, they had the opportunity to taste local cuisine, interact with the residents, and marvel at the musical, dance, and fashion talent on display. Every night was capped off with a lively and entertaining performance, making the festival an unforgettable celebration of the unique culture of Nagaland. Here are some stunning snapshots we captured at the Hornbill Festival 2022 in Nagaland. See you next Year! “I feel shy”: A Naga girl in traditional attire smiles for the camera A Hornbill Moment: A Naga girl helping a tourist take a picture among the colorful menfolks. Foreigners enjoying Naga food An elderly couple takes a walk at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisamaย  Truck full of Happiness: Local crafts on display for sale. Lenen …

Rootsandleisure_Ambush-Assam

“We Dream of a Society Free from Political Dominance by Dishonest Politicians.” – Rap Metal Band ‘AMBUSH’ from Assam

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Our guests today are members of the rap metal band ‘AMBUSH’ from Karbi Anglong, Assam. We chat about their recently released track ‘Corruption Choke’ and the message they want to send out through their music. The band members Risim Rongpi (Vocal), Amarjit Bey (Guitar), Jitu Tokbi (Bass), and Deowinson Bey (Drums) have been performing together for 7 years – and counting, ย and hope to keep raising powerful voices against corruption through their music. “Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development, and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division, and the environmental crisis. We have long been witnesses to social suffering as a result of political violence and domination. The invisible wounds of our people and the traumatized survivors of many terrors and conflicts keep us going. We dream of a society – and life in general, that is free from political dominance by dishonest politicians. Only then, can we improve the quality of our life.That’s what we want to convey through our music.” ~ AMBUSH, Karbi Anglong R&L: Hello! Excited to be having this chat. …

Rootsandleisure_Tune-up-channel-nagaland

‘Tune Up Channel’ from Nagaland is Back With Their New Single ‘A Letter’

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โ€œI am a HUGE Mesut Ozil fan, and the match between Germany and Northern Ireland was about to begin at 9:30 PM and I was dying to see Mesut back on the pitch. But then, my favorite band โ€˜Tune Up Channelโ€™ was set to take the stage only at serial no. 13. It was already 7:00 PM and the show still hasnโ€™t started!โ€ ~ A fan account of the hottest band from Mokokching – ‘Tune Up Channel’ย  in 2016. Full article here. Fast forward to 2022. ‘Tune Up Channel’ is back with a new single ‘A Letter’ looking dapper and oh-so grown up! Don’t we all live to witness this kind of transformation of our talented friends? ๐Ÿคฉ The band members chat with R&L about their latest single, making the video, their journey in the last 6 years – and some fun facts about each band member. Members of the band ‘Tune Up Channel’ from Mokokchung, Nagaland R&L: Hi! Super excited to be having this chat with y’all. The last time we heard about you …

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“Fashion is about Expressing Myself Without Inhibition” Kaito from Nagaland Shares His Top 5 Winter Outfits for Men

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“Fashion is part of the daily air and it changes all the time, with all the events. You can even see the approaching of a revolution in clothes. You can see and feel everything in clothes.” โ€”Diana Vreeland. We chat with Kaito from Nagaland to get some fashion tips for the ongoing cold weather. Not only is his layering game on point, but also his fashion philosophy – which is all about honoring the individual, and making a confident statement through your fashion choices. “I am particularly inclined towards Harajuku fashion and retro vintage styles. I love their appeal of mix-and-match and play with colors. Moreover, Harajuku fashion is a movement against strict societal rules and the pressure to fit the norm.” ~ Kaito from Nagaland. Kaito, 27, from Nagaland Hello Kaito, please introduce yourself. Kaito: Hello, Iโ€™m Kaito. 27 years from Suruhuto, Zunheboto, and based in Kohima. Iโ€™m an engineering grad with MBA currently working with NSRLM (Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission). Your fashion posts are so refreshing and bold! What’s your personal definition …

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“We Enjoyed This Breathtaking View and The Famous Shrimp Pakoras at the Nambol Bora Hotel, Manipur” – Chingngam, Imphal

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“I took this photo yesterday at the ‘Nambol Bora Hotel’ in Manipur. It is around 15 kms from Imphal city, and is on the way to Bishnupur district. This local eatery is known for serving the area’s best snails and shrimp pakoras, locally known as ‘Bora.’ It is definitely becoming one of the best hangouts in Manipur. And especially after staying indoors for several months, visiting Nambol Bora was literally a breath of fresh air! Weย ate Khajing bora (Shrimp fritters), Yeroom bora (egg fritters), Lemon Tea, Chicken momos, Potato & Spring Onion bora. The shrimpy chutney they serve with the pakoras goes so well with the momos too. The perfect duo! We really wanted to try the Tharoi bora (snail fritters) as well, but we went a little late, so it was all sold out.ย There’s also ‘Shinju‘ on the menu but it was the lemon tea that blew me away! ” ~ Chingngam, Imphal The View at the Nambol Bora Hotel, Manipur The Famous Pakoras ‘Boras’ (clockwise from top): Khajing bora (Shrimp fritters), Yeroom bora …

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“This is Me at My Best With All My Flaws.” – Kekhrie Ringa from Nagaland on Her Latest Music Video ‘Made for You’

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The bold, the beautiful, and the very talented singer from Nagaland – Kekhrie Ringa, is busy working on her upcoming album โ€œBohรจmeโ€ – and she just released a new video! The song is called ‘Made For You.‘ We had a quick late-night chat to get some deets behind the song and the video, and her upcoming projects. If you want to know more about Kekhrie Ringa – the person, and her beginnings, check out her interview with R&L – way back in 2017. <HERE> “I want to be 100 % honest and authentic especially when I put my music out. Every single song is a reflection of the person that I am. I don’t want to simply look like the idea of what people have about me nor the idea of the overrated perfection. As the songs and videos come in one by one, you’ll get to know me better…You may choose to embrace it or walk away …and that’s ok. And even if you, someday, end up hating me…Be kind, for Art cannot please …

Rootsandleisure_Nitesh Chamling_Mu Kimchi

โ€˜Mu Kimchiโ€™ Restaurant in Gangtok, Sikkim is a Korean Food Loverโ€™s Paradise | Chat with Owner Nitesh Chamling

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  ‘Mu Kimchi’ is a super popular restaurant in Sikkim – serving authentic Korean cuisine. With its cozy welcoming ambiance, this place is a must-visit for all Korean food lovers for a fun night out with family and friends. Customers from all over the world – including Koreans, have been spotted in this happening spot in Gangtok. We recently chatted with the owner – Nitesh Chamling, a young entrepreneur from Gangtok, who has been running this restaurant for the past 6 years. A Civil engineering grad from Bangalore, he left his job in the city to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant in his hometown. Over a quick chat, Nitesh gives us a run-through of the top 5 Korean cuisines to try, his favorite leisure activities, and more. Nitesh Chamling – Owner of ‘Mu Kimchi’ restaurant, Sikkim Hi Nitesh, welcome to R&L! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Nitesh: My name is Nitesh Chamling, I come from a small town called Temi in South Sikkim now I reside in Gangtok. I did my schooling …

Rootsandleisure_North east India musicians

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

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  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.ย  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.ย    “Hopeful” ~ @ruchielal Play ‘Korou’ (meaning โ€˜Sunlightโ€™ 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-Poets from North East India

World Poetry Day | Poets and Poetry from North East India

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On World Poetry Day, we compile our list of local authors from North East India, who have penned their deepest, most personal thoughts through poetry. Showcasing the variety of writers from the region especially seems apt on an international day like this – a day, that is intended to promote linguistic diversity. Vancouver Shullai from Shillong – author of โ€˜How To Love A Broken Manโ€™ “My poetry is, more often than not, a protest. There are poems that bring in a feel of the Romantics; they’re a lot like tea breaks from resentment. I hold every poem in equal regard because each of them comes from a place of extremely pure inspiration. To put it simply, I don’t force my poetry. If I feel it, I write it. If I don’t, I don’t.” ~ Vancouver Shullai Michelle Rungsung from Manipur – author of โ€˜Garden in a Graveyardโ€™ โ€œMy readers are aware that most of my work revolves around my childhood memories and my home because it was where I began in the first place. I …