Author: Vilina

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Meet Devika Gurung from Sikkim Who Is Using Her Passion For Arts And Crafts To Empower The Underprivileged Women Of Her Hometown

Published by Vilina

Some of us go a whole lifetime before we know for sure what our true purpose, passion, and calling in life is. Devika Gurung, from Namthang, Sikkim, is one of the lucky ones who found hers in her 20s. She uses her skills in traditional knitting and weaving, which were passed down to her by her mother and grandmother, to empower underprivileged women in her home state. Let’s delve deeper into the story of this inspiring woman. We had the pleasure of speaking with Devika Gurung, founder of “Fidgety Fingers” – a project that empowers local women in Sikkim by teaching them traditional arts and crafts such as knitting and crochet. Devika shares with us her personal journey in discovering her life’s purpose and the challenges she faced along the way. Conversation with Devika Gurung, founder of ‘Fidgety Fingers’ – a project that empowers women in Sikkim to earn a living through art and crafts R&L: Hi Devika! Please introduce yourself, and tell us more about your journey that led to starting your own venture …

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Drone Photographer Parth Konwar from Assam Wants Us to Get Lost in the Breathtaking Landscapes of North East India

Published by Vilina

“Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more.” ~ Vincent van Gogh. Full-time student and hobby photographer Parth Konwar from Assam literally takes these words to heart as he enthralls us with his artworks, which are mostly a representation of nature at it’s best as captured through his lenses.  We are happy to feature Parth Konwar, a young student and photographer from Jorhat, Assam with a fabulous and artistic eye for landscape photography. He talks to us about his passion for the art, how his new found love for drone photography came about, and how nature and his hometown has always inspired him. Hi Parth, welcome to R&L! Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from and what you’ve been up to. I’m Parth Konwar and I’m a student and photographer currently based in New Delhi. I was born in Jorhat and my family shifted to Guwahati around 4 years ago. I did my Graduation in Energy Engineering from Shillong and moved to Delhi around …

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“Makeup Gave Me Wings to Fly – Even After Losing My Sight in One Eye” Meet NYX Face Award Winner Nimshim Jajo from Manipur

Published by Vilina

“Makeup is not a mask that covers up your beauty; it’s a weapon that helps you express who you are from the inside.” ~ Michelle Phan.  For 26-year-old Nimshim Jajo from Manipur, makeup helped discover her inner strength as a creative force – when she discovered the art of makeup at a low point in her life “Makeup gave me wings to fly, and a boost to my confidence when I lost sight in my right eye.” Nimshim used the tools of make-up and art as a weapon to shut down everyone that closed doors for her and eventually led her to win the first NYX Face Awards in 2017. Here’s her story.  R&L chats with the talented, positive and super driven, Nimshim Jajo about her struggles in the beauty industry, her journey as a make-up artist and everything she hopes for in the coming years. Hello Nimshim! Tell us about yourself, where you’re from and what you have been up to? My name is Nimshim Jajo or Nim Jajo. I’m 26 years old from Ukhrul, Manipur, and …

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“I Grew Up in a Broken Family – and That’s Where It All Began” 24-Year-Old Michelle Rungsung Talks About her Debut Book ‘Garden in a Graveyard’

Published by Vilina

Writing has proved to be therapy for many like Michelle Rungsung who has found her saving grace through penning down her thoughts. What started as a habitual daily journaling of her memories and secrets, is now her biggest and most trusted method to fight and heal her way through her loneliness and mental illness. 24-year-old Michelle from Manipur is an exceptionally beautiful prose writer who entwines her words with her own emotions and draws you towards a peripheral of vision that is unknown yet so personal. We chat about her debut novel “Garden in a Graveyard” which is a collection of deeply personal short proses and poems exposing her own experiences with hurt, abuse, mental illness, love and journey to self-discovery and healing. A chat with 24-year-old Michelle Rungsung from Manipur who just released her debut collection of poems and proses, “Garden in a Graveyard.”She talks to us about her book, her struggle with mental health, her healing journey and everything in between. Congratulations on your book Michelle! Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Michelle Rungsung …

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Award-Winning Photojournalist from Nagaland, Zhazo Miachieo Takes Us Through His Photojournal and His Coverage of “Floods in Nagaland”

Published by Vilina

Robert Capa, known as one of the greatest war photographer and photojournalist in the history once quoted, “If your photos aren’t good enough, then you’re not close enough.” True to these words, this young talented photojournalist Kekhriezhazo Miachieo from Nagaland has embarked on a journey different from many others. What sets him apart is his simple photographs that speak a thousand words as he unwinds a different emotion each time he clicks his shutter. R&L had a conversation with Zhazo Miachieo, a photojournalist, from Kohima, Nagaland about his journey, his recent series of work – “Floods in Nagaland” and more. Read on! It’s such a pleasure to have you with us Zhazo! Tell us a little bit about yourself. My name is Kekhrie Zhazo Miachieo and I’m from Kohima, Nagaland. I started off with a two-month long internship at Hindustan Times in New Delhi and that eventually led to a full-time job as a staff photojournalist for 1.5 years. Later, I joined India Today Magazine as a photojournalist in 2013 and continued till 2017. I now work as …

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“We are Wearing Naga Traditional Mekhelas for Our Cultural Sunday in Pune”~ Aien

Published by Vilina

“In this photo, my friends and I are wearing Naga traditional mekhelas. It was our cultural Sunday at our Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF) in Pune. We love wearing mekhelas, so it was a great opportunity to showcase our lovely traditional attires. I am wearing an “Ao Naga” mekhela, which is usually blue and red in color (we do have it in other designs and colors). I got this mekhela from home. Most of the Naga students usually pack at least one traditional mekhela from home whenever they go outside Nagaland for their studies. Currently, I am pursuing my Bachelor of Arts at Abeda College in Pune.” ~ Aien from Nagaland  [Buy Naga Traditional Mekhela on R&L Shop] Check out more on how young fashionable folks from Northeast India wear their traditional Mekhelas and Accessories [Shop Naga Traditional Jewellery and Mekhelas on R&L Shop]

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“Thrift Shops aka 2nd-Hand-Dukan in Nagaland Are The Best Places to Shop for Fine Formal Suits Without Going Broke” – Karan Chetri, Men’s Fashion Blogger

Published by Vilina

Nagaland, and in general the Northeast region of India, is known for having one of the trendiest and most fashionable streets in the country. Any style, fad or trend that is seen on TV or SNS (read: social networking site) is, in no time seen sported by uber stylish folks in this part of India.When it comes to men’s fashion though, it’s a little bit of a different story as many feel it is hard to find pieces in the market that are as affordable as women’s clothes. Meet Karan Chetri from Nagaland, a fashionable game-changer who is sharing his secrets to nailing the formal look for men without breaking the bank. A thrift shopper and a non-believer in fast fashion brands, this well-dressed man shows us how to save money and build a wardrobe that looks expensive and classic for the value shopper. With the wedding and holiday season around the corner, all guys take note! [Video at the bottom] R&L chats with the stylish Karan from Kohima, Nagaland (his roots is in Nepal) as he …

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Recipe of “Naga Pork with Anishi” Cooked Traditionally in a Clay Pot

Published by Vilina

Today we have an authentic Ao Naga dish cooked over a fireplace in a Naga kitchen. It’s a pork dish cooked with Anishi (dried Colocasia leaves), Sichuan pepper “Michinga leaves” and napa. Made in traditional style in a clay pot, it is a flavorsome dish to be relished with a hot plate of rice and some chutney – a typical Naga meal. Read on to get the full recipe [Video included – at the bottom]. Ao Naga Dish | Pork with Anishi Ingredients 1 Kg Fresh pork (cut into 1″ pieces)  1 big Tomato 5-6 dried red chilies 3-4 Anishi cakes (Dried cakes made of Colocasia leaves) A handful of Sichuan Pepper Leaves “Michinga Leaves” Napa Clay Pot ( if you don’t have a clay pot, you can use a regular deep vessel and cook over gas) Ingredients (Clockwise from Left): Sichuan pepper leaves, Tomato, Dried Red Chillies, Napa, and Anishi cakes This Ao Naga Pork Dish is Prepared in a Clay Pot Directions to Prepare the Pork: Cut the pork into 1” chunks and dry fry in a deep …

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Amy Kim from Canada Talks About Her Trip To Pakistan and The Wonderful Places She Visited During Her Stay There

Published by Vilina

Traveling to a new place, meeting new people and learning about a new culture is one of the most thrilling things. Especially, when it’s full of little unexpected surprises like Amy Kim’s lovely visit to Pakistan. With the breathtaking views up in the north, green valleys, friendly and warm people, and so much more, she reminisces about her experience. She chats with R&L about her travel stories. Amy Kim from Canada (she is half Korean and half Taiwanese), who is currently working in Mumbai talks to R&L about her incredible visit to Pakistan, the unbelievable beauty of the landscape and the friendly hospitality of the locals. Hi Amy! Tell us a little about yourself and what you do. My name is Amy Kim and I’m a 26-year-old Canadian working in Mumbai. I’m heading the marketing department of a travel social enterprise based in Dharavi called Reality Tours and Travel. I love what I do mainly because I know 80% of all our profits go back to the community through our charity Reality Gives. My team is …

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NorthEast India Fashion | Street Style Trend Report From The Local Fashionistas of Arunachal, Manipur and Tripura

Published by Vilina

Street style culture has been trending for a while now, with individual style taking precedence over everything else. In the North East of India, street style is more than just a fashion statement – it’s a showcase of individuality and the region’s diverse cultures, mixed tastefully with global influences. Today, we catch up with some of the trendsetters from three states of North East India – Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura – to give us the lowdown on their personal style and what’s trending on their local fashion scene. Arunachal Pradesh Jomter Karlo | Fashion Student at NIFT Mumbai A fashion student from NIFT Mumbai, Jomter Karlois originally from Arunachal Pradesh. She loves to keep it edgy, funky, and unexpected by styling her outfits with accessories in unconventional ways. “I am not much of a ‘dress’ person. I like to mix & match my outfit to create different looks each time and my wardrobe consists mostly of crop-tops, shorts, pants and skirts. I am just old school like that. I’ve grown up being inspired by …