Author: Shanmi

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Recipe | Learn How to Make The Famous Axone (Fermented Soyabean) From Nagaland

[First published on 25th May, 2019] Axone (pronounced ‘Aakhuni’) is a fermented soybean paste with a very strong pungent smell, and it is one of the most popular spices from Nagaland, in the North East of India. It is indigenous to the ‘Sumi’ Naga tribe but is widely used across all Naga dishes. While locals in Nagaland usually buy it from the market, it is also made at home. Axone made by the Sumi tribe is most favored, obviously. Today, we have Inali Jane Ayemi, a passionate cook from Nagaland, to guide us through the entire process of making Axone at home. All we need are soybeans, a pressure cooker, and leaves to wrap them for fermentation. The complete process takes about a week. Let’s get started! Preparing Axone (aakhuni) at home: Wash the soya beans and soak them for about 20-30 mins Cook it in a pressure cooker, then strain it dry Then pound the soyabean to make it into a paste (as shown in the photo) Wrap portions of the pounded soyabean paste …

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A Chat With 19-Year-Old Keyicudauke Iranggau aka Keyi Zeliang, Passionate Singer From Nagaland

We come across so many young and talented musicians in the social media and couldn’t help but reach out to them to have a little chat about their passion and inspiration! Everyone has a different story to tell and today we have Keyicudauke Iranggau, who is better known as Keyi Zeliang. She is a passionate singer hailing from a small village called ‘Old Jalukie’ in Nagaland. She has been performing in church since her younger days and been at different platforms as well. Keyi is enthralling her fans with her powerful and melodious voice as well. We had a quick chat with Keyicudauke Iranggau, passionate singer from Nagaland to talk about how it all started, her inspiration and dreams! Hello! Please tell us a little about yourself. Hi! My name is Keyicudauke Iranggau aka Keyi Zeliang and I am 19-years-old originally from a small village in Nagaland called ‘Old Jalukie’. I’m presently in my 5th semester, pursuing BA Political Science honours at Pranabananda Women’s College, Dimapur, Currently, I’m also taking music classes at the Institution …

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Recipe of Mizoram’s Favourite Dish ‘Bai’ – Made With The Stalks Of Cauliflower | by Priya Iyer

Have you heard of a dish called ‘Bai’? “Bai is a kind of soup that hails from the exotic state of Mizoram. The state boasts of a number of indigenous leafy greens, many of which are unheard of and several of these greens are used in preparing Bai. Whatever vegetables are in season, find their way into Bai. Commonly used ingredients in Mizo kitchens like the king chilly, fermented mustard, are also used in making this soup. Today our friend Priya from Bangalore is going to show us her version of vegetarian Bai – made with stalks of Cauliflower. “If it is being served to non-vegetarians, pork sauce can be added. Bai is simple to prepare and very nutritious.” says Priya Recipe of Mizoram’s favourite dish, “Bai” – made with stalks of Cauliflower | contributed by Priya Iyer Ingredients : Water (5-6 cups) Baking soda (1/2 tbsp) Finely chopped cauliflower stalks + leaves + florets (2 cups) Beans (5-6 finely chopped) Potato (1) – peeled and finely chopped Green chillies (4, slit length-wise) Cooked rice …

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A Glimpse Of Life On Dal Lake, Srinagar With Tiarenla Jamir From Nagaland

“On a recent visit to Srinagar, I had the privilege of staying in a boat house at Dal Lake. We had to take a shikara from the main road to the boat house we were staying at. It was nestled among the other boat houses that we saw from the main road. It was simply perfect — away from all the noise and crowd. Below is a series of pictures and videos I captured during my stay.” ~ Tiarenla Jamir from Nagaland 1. Took a Shikara (a light, flat-bottomed boat) to our boat house 2. This was what the inside of the boat-house looked like 3. Reflection of the beautiful sky on Dal Lake 4. The lovely view from the boat house 5. Was in the mood for some kebab 6. Neighboring vegetable garden 7. You could even go for a hair cut or buy some handicrafts! 8. The 5 am vegetable market 9. A lady on the way to the market 10. Flowers anyone? 11. What waterways look like here 12. Just having a …

K V Paradise: The Taj Mahal of Mizoram – By Dipalay Dey From Assam

“Having spent 18 years in Mizoram, Aizawl holds a very special place in my heart and the city continues to mesmerize me. There are many wonders situated around this beautiful capital city and one of them is the “K V Paradise”. K V Paradise is a symbol of love and affection which was built by a loving husband in memory of his beloved wife. On my last visit to Aizawl, I had planned to explore this beauty to see the richness of love that the monument holds. We all know about “Taj Mahal” which is considered the symbol of love by many. K V Paradise is also considered as Taj Mahal of Mizoram and it symbolizes love as well. Situated at a hilltop in Durtlang near Aizawl city (approximately 10 kms away from city), K V paradise was built in the memory of Mrs. Rosangpui Varte who died in a tragic road accident in 2001. The monument was completed around the year 2006 and it’s a two-storey structure where the ground floor contains the erected …

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A Chat With Roderick Roy Yumkham, A Passionate Photographer From Manipur

Photography is about storytelling, about finding the extraordinary in the mundane and about gaining perspective of our surroundings. Today, we have Roderick Roy Yumkham, from Manipur, to share his thoughts on pursuing photography and how his grandfather, who is an artist, inspired him to see things differently. He started out by capturing photos through his phone and editing them on apps. Photography soon became his passion!  We had a quick chat with Roderick Roy Yumkham, passionate photographer to know a little more about his work. Hi! Introduce a little about yourself. I’m Roderick Roy Yumkham, 21 years old from Imphal, Manipur. Currently, I’m studying Visual Communication in Hindustan University in Chennai. What initially sparked your interest in photography? I feel photography to is ingrained in me but I didn’t know it until I started taking few pictures with my phone. If you closely look at the things around us, you will realize that everything has a story of its own. That’s how my interest became more intense with time and I began to believe I …

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“I Find My Escape From The World In My Paintings” – A Chat With Naresh Meetei, Artist From Manipur

Naresh Meetei is a 33-year-old contemporary artist from Manipur who works currently as an Art director at an advertising agency in New Delhi. Growing up, he was always fond of drawing and doodling. His work consists of interesting synthesis of colours, textures and lines. He draws inspiration from various street artists, mother nature and the internet!  We had a chat with Naresh Meetei, an artist from Manipur to talk about his work, inspirations, his recent work and more! Hello Naresh! Please tell us a little about yourself. My name is Naresh Meetei and I’m 33 years young 🙂 . I was born and brought up in Imphal, Manipur and presently, I work as an Art Director at an advertising agency in New Delhi. I’m currently working on a new series of paintings for my next exhibition in February 2020 and I’m very excited about it. Introduce us to your work. What got you started? As Master Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up“. …

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“Watching These Kids Play Outside Gave Me So Much Joy And Took Me Back To My School Days” ~ Nunthara From Mizoram

“This was just outside my house at Tuikual South, Aizawl. The neighborhood kids were out to play after school. They were so engrossed to play with each other and here, the two kids standing on top were blowing bubbles and the kids down there were trying to pop those bubbles. As I captured this moment, I felt that the joy these innocent kids had was not an exotic thing but instead a very simple one. It made me think to appreciate even a small thing in life. ~ V.L. Nunthara from Mizoram The neighbor kids engrossed with their games | Photo captured by Nunthara

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Meet Nori Norbhu, A Self-Taught Illustrator And Graphic Designer From Darjeeling

Hailing from Darjeeling, Nori Norbhu is a talented graphic designer and illustrator based in Mumbai, who has been making a mark in the world of art with her digital illustrations. Her stunning artwork is a treat for art lovers and reflects her deep connection with art since her childhood days. Nori is a self-taught artist who followed her passion and turned it into a profession. Currently, she works as a senior graphic designer with an advertising agency in Mumbai. We spoke to Nori about her work, her inspiration, and her ongoing projects. Read on to find out more about Nori and her creative journey. We had a chat with Nori Norbhu from Darjeeling, an illustrator and graphic designer who is based out of Mumbai to talk about her work and more! Hello Nori, good to have you with us! Please tell us a little about yourself. Hi, I’m Nori Norbhu, an illustrator and graphic designer based in Mumbai. When I’m not sipping on tea, I’m usually lost in the world of art and design. I …

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#RECIPE | Fried Silkworm Dish – A Naga Delicacy By Ayhunle Lorin From Nagaland

At Roots & Leisure, Saturday means recipe! Our readers share their own tried and tested recipes with us from easy breakfasts to heavy dinners. Today we have Ayhunle Lorin from Nagaland with the recipe of delicious fried silkworm dish. She says, “Silkworm are widely consumed in Nagaland although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. There are different ways to cook it, according to individual’s preferences. Here, I’ve boiled and fried them.” All it takes is some spices and silkworms to make this yummy dish. The recipe of fried silkworm dish, contributed by Ayhunle Lorin from Nagaland Ingredients : Silk Worm ( 1kg ) Chilli powder ( 3tbsp ) Turmeric powder ( 2tbsp ) Ginger and garlic paste ( 3tbsp ) Roasted Machingagutti powder ( 2tbsp ) Vinegar ( 2tbsp ) Green Chillies ( 10pc ) Oil (4-5 tbsp ) Salt to taste Preparations of the dish : Boil the Silkworm Cut it into small pieces Marinate with salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder, garlic, ginger, roasted machingagutti powder, vinegar and green chillies Heat the …