Author: Roots & Leisure

Manga Artist and Animator | Dechen Tenzing from Sikkim

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Has any one ever binge watched anime’s like Naruto, Full Metal Alchemist, Bleach, Death Note etc. ? Some of us in the Roots and Leisure team have 😉  There is something about these Japanese animation that is so captivating. For Dechen, it inspired her to write her own mangas and create animations which are based on tribal tales, fantasy and nature. D.P.Tenzing, 23,  is a Manga Artist, Illustrator and Animator living in Delhi. She is originally from Mangan, Sikkim. Hi Dechen! Tell us something about your art. How did you begin in the first place? When I was a kid I always loved watching cartoons and anime but after a certain point my mother started getting worried about me. Thinking something was wrong with me because at my age people would start watching normal T.V shows. Back in my village, I was watching Animax for the first time and Inuyasha was being aired. I was like “WOW!”. I  then took out a pen and I was like “HOW?”  and the rest is history. What is …

Introducing Chocolatier Easter who just Launched her Venture at the Maker’s Market

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“All you need is love but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt” – Charles M Shulz Today it gives us immense pleasure to introduce a chocolatier for the first time on our blog! Meet Easter Tepa from Dimapur, Nagaland.  She has completed her diploma in Patisserie from ‘Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Art’, Bangalore and has worked in ‘Amande Patisserie’ and Food Hall, Bangalore. ” I am so nervous and excited to launch – finally!” Having tasted her chocolates while she was still getting trained in Bangalore, we knew her stall would be a hit. R&L team had a chat with Easter. Why chocolates ? I returned home (Nagaland) in 2016 with the intention and hope of venturing into the food industry – particularly pastry and chocolates. It has been my passion for a long time now, and although I haven’t set up shop yet, I hope to launch very soon. I am excited about the adventure in this industry, and I plan to start with chocolates 🙂 Have you thought of …

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Man of Many Passions | Jonathan Dkhar from Meghalaya

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“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” — Oprah Winfrey If not for passion, how else can we gather enough energy to pursue all that our heart longs to do. Jonathan Dkhar, from the hills of Shillong seems to have figured that out. He is a lawyer by profession but has many passions – he is a biker and a musician; he plays as a session drummer for two bands : one a progressive metal band called ‘Dwar’ and another a heavy rock/ metal band called ‘Akhia’. His energy in turn inspires many to live each moment with passion. Here’s a chat with Jonathan Dhkar to understand why and how he juggles many interests. Hi Jonathan! Tell us something about yourself. I have lived in Meghalaya my whole life , and I am currently working full time as a lawyer.  As a part time activity, I play the drums with a couple of bands here in Shillong. I also love going for long rides on my bike and exploring the …

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Recipe | Kangshoi (Broth) – Naga Style

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Today’s recipe, Kangshoi, meaning broth, comes from our lovely reader Yuimi Vashum. It is best eaten with rice. Serve it hot on a chilly rainy day. Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15-20 minutes Ingredients: 1 big potato 1 small onion 1 medium tomato 100 grams of spinach (or any leafy vegetable) 1-inch ginger 4 cloves garlic 3 green chilly 4 to 5 pieces of dried meat (4 or 5 inches) or dried fish 1 tablespoon of mustard or cooking oil Directions to cook:  Chop the potatoes into cubes. Thinly slice the onions, tomatoes, and chili. Grind ginger and garlic. Add potatoes, onions, chili, dry meat or dry fish, and tomatoes into a pot. Add water, 2/3 the level of the food in the pot on the stove. Add salt and mustard/cooking oil and let it boil. (if you are using dry fish, make sure to fry it first before you add to the pot). In about 10 minutes, add ginger and garlic. Let it cook for 5 more minutes and check if the potato …

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Abeto Shohe | Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer from Nagaland

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“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” — Aaron Siskind. Abeto’s thoughts are somewhere close on the similar lines – a wedding and lifestyle photographer from Dimapur, Nagaland. Born and brought up in a middle class Christian family, Abeto Shohe is a wedding and lifestyle photographer from Dimapur Nagaland who is passionate about capturing life’s moments on his camera. He has a Masters degree in Political Science. Besides, photography and shooting weddings, he runs a photography training institute in Dimapur as well.  Hi Abeto! Tell us how you got started with photography in the first place.  My photography has evolved a lot since my younger days. Some moments are meant to be treasured forever and it is only possible through capturing them. To be honest, photography was more of a hobby for me at first, but later it turned out to be a full time profession. It is hard to believe that I get to …

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Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

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See elephants as they should be seen at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. Take a virtual tour of this beautiful elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where rescued elephants roam freely in their natural habitat. Spend a day in the wild, soaking in the serene surroundings, sharing quiet moments with the gentle giants, and enjoying a delicious Thai vegetarian buffet lunch. Thailand’s Northern Province of Chiang Mai is an incredible place to see wildlife, boasting an array of exotic animals that are specific to the region. But what separates the Elephant Nature Park from the rest is its commitment to the welfare of the elephants – a movement against keeping elephants in confinement for human amusements. There is no riding here and each elephant’s needs are individually assessed and prioritised. For those intending to visit the park, the itinerary, travel details, and cost set out below are what you can expect from a one-day tour. Itinerary: The day begins with elephant feeding, visitors stand on a platform and are instructed to carefully place hunks …

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Tiasunep Aier from Nagaland | Chief Designer and Creator of ‘Old Cabin’

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Someone recently tweeted that it is almost impossible to balance Creativity and Productivity – that it is hard to optimize for both. That isn’t necessarily true because we know far too many talented artists, who are also the most productive. Most times, they have a regular 9 to 5 job, and after-work hours is when they feed their passion to create beautiful pieces of art. Here’s one such restless soul – Tiasunep from Nagaland, an artist based out of Pune. In a chat with Roots and Leisure, he talks about his brand ‘Old Cabin’ and how comic books introduced him to the world of art. How did it all start? How did you discover this passion of yours? Growing up, comic books opened up a whole new world for me. Away from my real world, they were the only reference I could use for art. Call it fortunate or unfortunate, there were no TV cable operators in our area –  so we just had the inescapable Doordarshan channel. Me and my brother would get so …

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Cosplay is a Serious Game for These Indian Cosplayers from Nagaland

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Folks here’s an update on yet another Cosplay event organized by the Nagaland Anime Junkies. Some people say it’s just a fad but the passion of the organizers and the participants alike, seem to show otherwise. Let’s watch and see what comes out of this interesting (literal) cultural play, but for now let us enjoy the elaborate dress-ups and the performances by the cosplayers. Here is a glimpse of what went down at NAJ (Nagaland Anime Junkies) Cosfest 2017, that was held in Kohima, Nagaland. Cosplayer Lanujungshila Imchen, as 2B Nier from Automata Cosplayer Kevitshetuo Sekhose as Joker from Suicide Squad. Cosplayer Grace Soukhrie as Sona from League of Legends Cosplayer Ayim as Raiden, Jack the Ripper from the game, Metal Gear Rising – Revengeance Cosplayer Ayim as Monokuma from the videogame,  DanganRonpa Photo Courtesy : HOPONG CHANG – official photographer for NAJ COSFEST 2017 South east Asian cultures, especially those of Japan and Korea, have an unmissable influence in shaping the pop-culture in Nagaland. The way the dress, the art forms used to express themselves, the food they …