Author: Roots & Leisure

A Visit To “The Woods” – Cottage by Doyang River, Pangti Village in Nagaland.

So here’s the thing about visiting Nagaland. The whole state is a treasure trove of interesting ways to experience nature in its most glorious forms. The R&L team recently visited Wokha District in Nagaland – home of the Lotha Naga tribe, to attend their post-harvest festival ‘Tokhu Emong’, and also witness the arrival of the migratory bird “Amur Falcon.” While we toured the lovely Wokha District, we got a chance to visit Pangti village, where we had a stopover at the enchanting Doyang river for lunch. That’s where we came across “The Woods” cottage by the river, and had one of the most memorial experiences of the trip. Sitting elegantly by the river bank, “The Woods”, the 2-storey hut gives visitors access to the most peaceful and scenic view of the river Doyang and its surrounding beauty. The good news is, they are open for business, and anyone can come and book a room for just Rs. 300 per night (breakfast and food extra) and enjoy a relaxing time with the unique offerings of the …

R&L Folks Share Their Excitement for the Upcoming Music Festival – NH7 Weekender Meghalaya 2018

Published by Roots & Leisure

It’s that time of the year again when music lovers from across the country will be headed to Shillong to attend the Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2018. This is the fourth season for the Meghalaya edition – and is going from strength to strength each year. In the words of Vijay Nair, CEO of Only Much Louder – the force behind Bacardi NH7 Weekender, “Nh7 Shillong sold more tickets than Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata combined. North East is the biggest untapped market for live entertainment. The Shillong edition is officially the fastest growing edition of Bacardi Nh7 Weekender and we can’t wait to see where it takes us.” (quoted from his interview with businessworld, 2016). Not really a surprise given the fact that music is ingrained in the souls of the local folks of Meghalaya and the neighbouring North Eastern region! So let’s find out what’s in store from this year’s festival. So without wasting much time, here’s all the deets you need to get to the festival – which starts tomorrow (2-3 Nov 2018). We also have our R&L folks sharing their personal …

R&L Editor Megumi D’Souza Takes Us Through Her Fun-Filled Life in Mumbai – Juggling Work, Gigs and R&L

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Another exciting post as we introduce yet another team member today. Our friend Megumi – a “halfu” with an Indian dad and a Japanese mom, is currently helping our team as an editor – sitting out of Mumbai. A multi-talented creative personality, she juggles her time between a full-time job, gigs (she sings in a band) and R&L commitments. We are indeed one of the luckiest teams to be constantly surrounded by like-minded passionate individuals – each bringing in their unique set of contributions, making Roots and Leisure a true example of how diversity can be an engine of creativity. Having said all that, let’s go on to get to know her more 🙂 For this edition of R&L’s #FaceReveal, we introduce you to Megumi Dsouza – our editor from Mumbai. A powerhouse of energy, she breathes a fresh whiff of creativity to the R&L team, and today she gives us a glimpse into her life as she shares a slice from her fun-filled daily schedules. Hello Megumi, please introduce yourself to our readers. Tell us what you do, …

Ziro Festival of Music 2018 | Event Co-Founder Bobby Hano Gives Us a Glimpse into the Festival Preparation Mood from Ziro Arunachal

Published by Roots & Leisure

Ziro Festival of Music is knocking on your doors, and the most magical part here is that this door opens up into the magical land of the Apatani folks in Arunachal Pradesh. One of the major ethnic groups of the Eastern Himalayas, they are known for their unique traditions and their systematic agricultural practices and sustainable social forestry. Ziro valley has also been shortlisted for India’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to their unique culture and traditions, Ziro valley has been gaining fame in the recent years among the young folks as the “It” destination for one of the coolest music festivals in India. Beating all other music fests in the country, this one stands out for “unbeatable everything” from the picturesque venue of the valley to the coolest folks – with artists and festival goers gathered from all over the world, the Food, the Fashion, and a radiant mood that stays with you long after the festival is over. This year the the ‘Ziro Festival of Music’ is happening on 27th …

“My Ultimate Goal is to Give Back to My Community” | Face Reveal : Meet Vilina, TERI University Student cum Content Manager, R&L

Published by Roots & Leisure

Another day, another rockstar – who have blessed Roots & Leisure with the gift of time, sweat, passion, and positivity. We met almost 5 months ago after she sent us an email introduction; and we were supposed to get on a call the next day – but it never happened. 2 months later, we came across that email with details of the call appointment that somehow got postponed indefinitely. Finally made the call and she was on-board within 24 hours as our content manager. We didn’t discuss much but knew instantly that we were meant to work together. Also, we haven’t met her in person yet – just like the many others who have worked and are working with us. Isn’t it wonderful when strangers help each other out, without ever meeting in person? Well, welcome to the world of Roots & Leisure! Today, as a part of our #FaceReveal series, we would like to introduce you to Vilina – our content manager based out of Delhi. Born and brought up in Nagaland, an engineering …

“This is How I Juggle Classes, Campus Fun and Working with R&L” | Face Reveal: Naro, Content Manager, R&L

Published by Roots & Leisure

It’s been more than two years since we launched Roots and Leisure, and today, our branches have grown wide and deep – with an ever-growing network of storytellers and inspirational figures. They are all bound tightly by our core team members, who work selflessly across locations – even time zones at times.Rushing against deadlines amidst their busy lives of their own, the sweat and passion of the team are what keeps the community alive. So this is the first of our series of “Face Reveals” to give our readers a glimpse into the life of our R&L members. Starting off, we have Naro Longkumer from Nagaland, who is one of the many content managers in our team. She recently moved to Hyderabad to pursue her masters in Applied Linguistics, minoring in Management, and is also taking up a language course in Korean. Good to see young people finally taking up courses they actually enjoy, and have a knack for. Look she already has a job too – working with us! 🙂 Here’s a chat with Naro, our content …

Local Fashion Brand “Shipen-Shisang” from Nagaland Celebrates Women with Their Spring Summer ‘18 Collection

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It’s the month of June, and the weather in Nagaland is becoming warmer.It rains occasionally – sometimes very fierce, but as the sky opens up after the showers of rain, temperature may soar as high as 30°C; maybe a little cooler at around 25°C in Kohima. But the overall mood is relaxed and summery – with the locals often paying a visit to the nearby ice cream parlor, a friend’s place or an evening out to check out the lineup of cafes/lounges that have recently popped up in various parts of the state. That’s when they dress up in their most comfy – yet stylish outfits to capture #Instagram-worthy clicks. Thank their stars, they have some talented fashion designers – along with the local boutiques, to gather to their never-ending pursuit for the trendiest outfits – that are uniquely and exclusively made for the local fashion tastes. Today we have the talented fashion designer/entrepreneur duo from “Shipen-Shisang”showcasing their Spring Summer ’18 collection. The talented sisters behind the brand have been dressing up the savvy dressers with …

Recipe of Mixed Vegetable Dish from Nagaland “Rosep Aon”

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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 …

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

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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 …

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

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“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 …