All posts filed under: FEATURED

Featured posts

rootsandleisure_medo

Meet Medophreno Shunyu, a Talented Sketch Artist From Kohima, Nagaland

Published by Visekhono Sachu

Medophreno, from Kohima, is a self-taught sketch artist. Starting as early as when she was in 2nd grade, she’s honed her skills through rigorous and passionate practice. Her forte is sketching portraits but she enjoys experiment with different genres such as calligraphy as well. Talking about her work, she says, “through my art, I hope people see that we human beings are God’s masterpiece and we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Art has been a for of inspiration since her childhood, and she hopes her art can inturn, inspire people. Medophreno had a talk with us about her artworks. Read the full interview below. Hello Medophreno. Can you tell us a litle bit about yourself? My name is Medophreno Shunyii. I am 26 years old from Kohima, Nagaland. If I were to describe myself then it’ll be in just two simple words – an ambivert and an optimist. And I’m also a big foodie. I’m trying to make a career in the teaching field. Until then, I’m doing a lot of things I like, art being …

rootsandleisure_gotouch

Gugu Kuotsu, Owner of Gutouch Restaurant In Kohima, Gives You A Touch of Authentic Naga Dishes

Published by Menule Chirhah

I’Gu we offerThe Gutouch Cafe is a cute eaterie in Kohima Town with an aesthetic setting, adding to the ambiance of the restaurant. The place is famous for its ‘Galho‘ and has been the talk of the town for a while. We decided to have a little chat with the founder of the restaurant , Gugu Kuotsu to get more insight into her restaurant. Hello Gugu. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I am Gugu Kuotsu from Kohima. I am the founder of the Gutouch restaurant, I also have a jewelry brand by the same name –  that offers traditional and fusion-made jewelry. What is the story behind ‘Gutouch’ Well, the name of the Cafe was suggested by my friends like Mengu Suokhrie, Onen Nenty, and Athe Rhi, since I already have a brand name Gutouch, a jewelry brand. In addition, my love for food – especially homemade Naga food pushed me to add a restaurant to my existing brand. I finally launched Gutouch – the restaurant in the September of 2018. Tell …

rootsandleisure_Hornbill

Moments & Events Captured At Hornbill Festival 2019!

Published by Nara Longkumer

To add to this festive time of the year, Nagaland hosts its famous Hornbill Festival to celebrate music, art, food, and culture. Started 8 years ago, every year the festival brings with it a different experience for attendees. The vibrance and the energy only increase with every new edition of the festival, and 2019 was no exception!  Today, we bring to you some of our favorite moments and sights from the festival. Brew your tea, sit back and take a look at these beautiful shots that sum up Hornbill ’19. The festival wraps up tomorrow, make sure you drop by!  You can find different varieties of handicrafts to choose from. Morungs (Naga traditional huts) from different tribes of Nagaland. In case you’ve missed the fun, don’t worry. There’s still a day left, so hurry up and get to Kisama before you get a case of FOMO! More from Hornbill Festival across the years HERE.

Rootsandleisure_IndusCreed_Nagaland

Catching up with Uday Benegal of Indus Creed During The Band’s Visit to Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival 2019

Published by Nara Longkumer

“The times you lived through, the people you shared those times with — nothing brings it all to life like an old mixtape. It does a better job of storing up memories than actual brain tissue can do. Every mix tape tells a story. Put them together, and they can add up to the story of a life.”~ Rob Sheffield We all have unique relationships with our music – as creators, and as listeners. For folks in Nagaland, music is a huge part of growing up, with almost every activity that has shaped the individual involving some form of music – from singing in the choir to waking up to country music playing across the hall, to jamming to rock music to bonding with family over a bonfire and a guitar, music runs in the life and blood of the Nagas. That being said, music performances are a huge part of the most prominent festival in Nagaland – the Hornbill Festival, which happens every year from Dec 1 to 10, with a host of music …

rootsandleisure_maizetea

#RECIPE| Learn How To Make Traditional Naga Maize Tea

Published by Menule Chirhah

In the cold winters, all we need is a warm cup of tea to ease the chilly weather, right? We have the perfect tea recipe right here. The maize tea is enjoyed by the Naga people and is mostly served when a visitor comes by. It is also a famous drink in village gatherings or meetings, enjoyed by both the young and old alike, and is popularised by the Chakhesang tribe of Nagaland. Learn how to make the maize tea: Ingredients you’ll need: Pounded maize Sugar (optional)  Water Directions to cook: Pound the maize. You can find pounded maize in the market as well. Adjust the water quantity according to how sticky you want the Maize tea to be. Less quantity of water, will make the tea more sticky and more quantity of water will give a thinner texture. You can add sugar to the tea in order for the tea to be sweet. Boil the pounded maize until it is fully cooked. After the maize is tender you can turn the stove off. Be …

rootsandleisure_Koko

Koko Yiese, Owner Of The Multi-Cuisine ‘Meet Up’ Cafe, Talks About Running A Restaurant & More

Published by Menule Chirhah

With new eateries opening each week in Nagaland, offering new delicious meals, The Meet Up is one such restaurant which serves authentic Korean and Chinese cuisines. The restaurant also lets you have fellowships, gatherings or prayer meetings free of cost. This makes the restaurant a special place not only to try their delicious food, but also for a good ol’ gathering! We met up with Koko Yiese, the owner of the restaurant to have a little chat! Head to the link in bio or below to read the interview.  Hi Koko. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hello. I am Koko Yiese, a 30 year old food enthusiast, and the founder of The Meet Up. I live in Kohima, Nagaland. Ever since I was in my early teens, I was very fond of cooking and learning new cuisines, but I never saw myself becoming a ‘foodpreneur’. However, the love for the art of cooking led me to Korea to learn about the Korean cuisines and I learned from home cooks about the basics …

rootsandleisure_elna_yepthomi

Chef Elna Yepthomi Talks About Her Journey From Nagaland to Australia & Her Love For Mixing Art With Food

Published by Kumti

Elna Yepthomi’s journey to becoming a chef at one of the well-known clubs in Canberra, Australia, is truly inspiring. According to Elna, much like any other art form, culinary art requires practice, sacrifice, and devotion. Originally from Nagaland, she studied Hotel Management in Kolkata and went on to learn cheffing at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Australia. Through her experiences with cooking, Elna has learned a great deal about life and art. In her pursuit of making a mark in the culinary world, she has developed an even deeper love for her Naga culture and food. “As a Naga chef and proud representative of the Nagas, I see the influence of my roots in my cooking. The majority of international chefs have little knowledge about our local ingredients. This gives me the opportunity to promote our Naga food here,” says Elna. We chat with Chef Elna Yepthomi from Nagaland to know more about her journey, how she incorporates her Naga culture into her work, and her experiences working as a chef in Australia.  R&L: …

Rootsandleisure_Hornbill Nagaland 2019

Hello December. Hornbill Festival 2019 is Happening in Nagaland!

Published by Neha Fernandez

  December is here, and Christmas is right around the corner! The air is crisp and cold with the temperature dropping steadily to welcome the season . . . and what better way to start the celebrations than with the pomp and grandeur of the much-awaited Hornbill Festival! This annual festival that happens every year in Nagaland from December 1 to 10, is something that you should not miss if you are looking to experience the Naga culture in all of 1 week! The festival formula is essentially the same with a heady mix of traditional customs and modern pop culture coming together in one big celebration – but what sets it apart every year is the eclectic mix of performers and festival goers that gets even more colorful each year! Hornbill Festival has something for everyone – for the young, the old, the local, the tourist, the artist, the performer, and the audience… So come one and come all, and be a part of the most happening festival in the North East region to …

rootsandleisure_DPRcafe

A Chat About Art With Debi, the Owner of DPR Artlife

Published by Neha Fernandez

Debi, a post graduate from St. Xavier’s college, Kolkata, realised right after college that he wasn’t made for a desk job. A passionate sketch artist, he had always knows that his love lies in art. He decided to take the leap and launch his own venture where he sells customised art decor pieces and collectibles like coasters, mugs and more.  Going under the name of DPR Artlife, his venture also focuses on providing a creative space for young and budding artists like him. We get to know a little more about his vision behind DPR Artlife and his work through a candid chat.  Hey Debi, tell us about DPR Artlife. We thought of creating a brand for the people of India which justified our rich cultural heritage. Art is the soul of our country. We wanted to start a new trend through our brand where people value the importance of art. We make various artworks to light up your beautiful space. There a bunch of handmade items at our crafts store, created with love. What …