All posts filed under: PEOPLE

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Ann Lotha Talks To Us About How She Became A Successful Designer

Published by Nara Longkumer

“As I work for a company and not my own label yet-my work is split into different brands -like if you see a embroidered bag at Zara which says made in India there could be 60-70% chance that we had something to do with it” Ann Lotha has taken her dream and passion and made it into a reality through her hard work and dedication towards the work. She is a designer for famous companies like Zara and Mango, and we had a small one-on-one with her to talk about how she reached where she is today. Read the full interview below. Introduce us to your work. What got you started? I’m a product designer who specializes in all sorts of hand-embroidered techniques like hand-beaded embroidery, handloom weaving, crochet, macrame, machine embroidery, and so on. I design and work on products for bags, soft home products pillows /throws, hair accessories for multinational companies like Zara, Mango, etc. When I started my first job, after graduating, I had no clue about embroidery or anything machine-related projects …

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“Looking Down to Hundreds of Meters Below, the Valley Beneath Gives a Magnificent View!” Lanchung Gonmei Talks About Her Zip Lining Experience In Meghalaya

Published by Shanmi

“This was on our trip to Meghalaya in October. I went with five of my friends; we wanted to take a break from our studies and have some fun! It was a fine October afternoon, and the weather was quite chilly. On the way to Cherrapunji, we stopped over to try out zip lining near the bridge at Mawkdok. It was my first time, but one of the most thrilling experiences so far! Looking down to hundreds of meters below, the beautiful valley beneath gives a magnificent view! It was a short route but the speed was pretty thrilling and exhilarating. Definitely the highlight of the trip. Must try!” ~ Lanchung Gonmei from Nagaland, Master’s Student of Commerce, Guwahati

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A Chat With Pastor of SOULS Cafe in Shillong – Your Special Place To Fill Your Body and Soul

Published by Arepla Jamir

  Just as our body needs food to stay physically active and healthy, our soul too can do with some spiritual food. Our reader and contributor Arep – a student in Shillong, recently visited “SOULS Cafe” in Shillong, and loved her experience there; so here she is, sharing her conversation with the owner of the cafe to guide us through the offerings of the cafe and more. SOULS cafe is known for its welcoming atmosphere, and also offers free counselling for those in need. So if you are looking for good comfort food, lovely ambiance and a place to relax, bond and refresh, SOULS cafe may be a good place to check out. Here’s a chat with Pastor Ever to know more about the cafe, and why it’s loved by many in Shillong. R&L contributor Arep chats with Pastor Ever, who is one of the co-founders of “SOULS Cafe” in Shillong, Meghalaya. They talk about how the cafe aims to be the light for lost souls and bring them some comfort and healing- along with some yummy …

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“The Fact That We Were All Rebels Brought Us Together Through Punk Music” | A Chat With Indie Punk Rocker Girls From Delhi & Arunachal – The Vinyl Records!

Published by Shanmi

Today we have some refreshing guests with us. Presenting  ‘The Vinyl Records’ – a powerful, post-punk rock girl band from Delhi. Comprising of four fierce and bold women from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, they share a common love for post-punk rock, and are here to make some great music with a dash of glam rock. ‘The Vinyl Records’ have been playing across the country since their inception in 2011. TVR has also performed at large scale music festivals such like NH7 weekender, Ziro Festival of Music and Puma loves Vinyl, proving that girls indeed can rock as hard as the boys! The lovely ladies chat with R&L to share more about themselves, and their music. Here’s a fun chat with the members of Indie Post-Punk band “The Vinyl Records” from Delhi. This all girl band from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam share some interesting tit-bits about their band, their music and more. Read on to know more about them, what ticks their boxes and all the things that inspire these rockstars. Hi guys! Thanks so much for talking with us! Give us a …

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#FACES | Nenia Arche from Manipur Recalls Her Memorable Stay in Haven’s Cove Resort in Syntu Ksiar in Jowai, Meghalaya

Published by Shanmi

“This photo was taken last year in June during a trip to Jowai – which is located about 60 km from Shillong in Meghalaya. We stayed in a lovely resort called ‘Haven’s Cove’ in Syntu Ksiar, which is about 5 km away from the main Jowai town; we took a car to get there, and then had to walk around 20 mins to reach the resort. During that time of the year (June), the weather was so pleasant making our trip even more worthwhile. For the outing that day, we packed some home-cooked lunch (prepared by one of my friend’s mom) which we enjoyed besides the peaceful river.While we were there, we had a wonderful time exploring the scenic surroundings by taking long walks through the narrows paths in the open paddy fields; one of the highlights was walking over the footbridges, which were beautifully made!” “The most memorable part of the trip happened on our way back. While we were walking, it started raining heavily. We had just 2 umbrellas, which was not enough for all …

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Lipok Esther – An Artist and Entrepreneur from Nagaland Talks About Her Passion Venture “Fire and Earth Ceramics”

Published by Shanmi

Pottery has been a craft ever since our ancestral times. It is said that people in East Asia started making pottery as early as 14000 BC before they even started farming. From being a necessary craft within a household, pottery today has evolved into an art form – with many artists experimenting with various materials and techniques to keep this craft relevant even in modern times.  Today, we chat with a talented ceramic artist – Lipok Esther from Nagaland to talk about her venture ‘Fire and Earth Ceramics’ which has caught the attention of many not only in Nagaland but also beyond. She speaks passionately about her craft, emphasizing her dedication to preserving Naga heritage and customs. According to her, ceramics is relatively new in Nagaland, even though pottery has always been part of Naga culture. Throiugh her venture, she aims to introduce ceramics while honoring Naga art forms and her own passion for pottery. Chats with ceramic artist Lipok Esther from Nagaland to learn more about her venture ‘Fire and Earth Ceramics’ Lipok’s creations …

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All The Awesome Highlights From This Year’s Edition Of The Hornbill Festival Nagaland 2018

Published by Roots & Leisure

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland has come to an end, drawing over two lakh tourists from across the state, country and abroad during the 1o-day period of food, dance, music and festivities. It has etched yet another lasting memory for so many – locals and tourists alike – about the friendly people and unique traditions of Nagaland. The Hornbill Festival that happens every year in Nagaland from Dec 1-10, has something to offer for everyone – from a glittering cultural extravaganza ranging from tribal song & dances of north east India to a display of local cuisines and traditional wares, musical nights that showcase the best of local, national and international talents, camping and trekking adventures for the travel enthusiasts, and a host of pop-culture showcases for the young visitors, and so much more.  Strap in as we take you through all the highlights of Hornbill Festival 2018 in Kisama Village, Nagaland. Tribal Morungs and their traditional cuisines The Hornbill Festival starts officially at the main venue, in Kisama Heritage Village in Kohima District. The venue hosts …

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The “Hornbill International Music Festival”, 2018 Kickstarts in Dimapur, Nagaland.

Published by Shanmi

The much-awaited Hornbill International Music Festival has officially kicked off on the 1st of December at Agri Expo site, 4th mile Dimapur, Nagaland. The music festival will carry on till 10th while the Rock Contest will start from 5th to 8th of December. Four bands from Nagaland and 20 visiting bands have been selected through the audition for the Rock Contest, 2018. The ten-day long music festival will altogether have 24 bands which include 5 bands from Nagaland.  The opening day witnessed 5 renowned bands from Nagaland, namely – Cosmic Impact, Annie’s OK, Avancer, Papersky and Lords of Rock, and saw about a good number of enthusiatic crowd as well. The second day titled “Praise Sunday” saw a number of soulful performances by various Christian artists such as  Tali Angh, Beyond Sunday, Jack Pucho & the Warehouse Worship and Power Faith. Apart from the concert, 32 stalls were also set up to satisfy the hungry tummy of the people that attended the show on day 1. Below is a lineup of all the amazing artists who …

Top Five Cafes And Spots You Need To Visit In Kohima, Nagaland this December During Hornbill Festival 2018

Published by Shanmi

Kohima is the hilly capital city of India’s northeastern state of Nagaland. It is an ideal place to have a memorable and peaceful vacation. While summer here is tropical, winter is dry and bitterly cold. So, we suggest you to prepare with thick and warm clothes when you visit Kohima next month during the much awaited Hornbill Festival 2018. Today, we are happy to guide you to some of the top places to visit this December. How to reach Kohima :  NST run buses from Dimapur to Kohima and the 75 km long road journey takes around 4 hours. Taxis are also available in the taxi stand beside the Dimapur Railway Station. Dimapur is well connected to the rest of India by rail, bus and air services. Top Five ‘CAFES’ To Visit in Kohima : 1. Cafe “Sorshia & Co.” Sorshia & Co. is located at Belho Complex, P.R.HILL Kohima. It is a cosy space that welcomes you with love and genuine hospitality that makes you feel like it’s home. Some specials from their menu include the stir-fried …

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Everything You Need to Know About The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland 2018 | How To Get There, Where To Stay, What to Expect and More!

Published by Shanmi

It’s that time of the year once again! With this year’s edition of the much loved Hornbill Festival just around the corner, we are here today to relieve your worries and tensions by guiding you with all the information you need to know about the venue, transport facilities and homestays, etc. Read on to find out everything and more about this annual extravaganza – happening from Dec 1-10 in Nagaland, in the North East of India. The Hornbill Festival is celebrated annually from the 1st to 10th of December in Nagaland. Organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, it is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 10 km from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland. About Hornbill Festival, Nagaland Hornbill Festival is named after the great Indian hornbill – a large and colorful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the northeastern state’s tribes. The festival was started to encourage inter-tribal interaction of the many states of the region. It also aims to revive and protect the …