All posts filed under: PEOPLE

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Meet Kekhrie Ringa – Rising Broadway Style Singer from Nagaland

Published by Shweta Rao

Outspoken, yet cool-as-a-cucumber, budding artist and singer Kekhrie Ringa has never been a voice that blends into the background. Not surprisingly, she’s also one of the very few rising singing stars in the Broadway genre in India. In her own words, “I sing and teach vocals for a living” Kekhrie works at the Music Academy Kohima as a vocal teacher, and she is also a part of the gospel rock band ‘Fireflood’ – a seven-member band, based out of Bangalore. I sing and teach vocals for a living” Kekhrie Ringa, Nagaland Shweta Rao: Hey Kekhrie, feel so good to have you here with us! So tell us – who according to you – is Kekhrie Ringa? Kekhrie Ringa: I am a singer and a vocal teacher. I was born in Mokokchung, but I currently live in Kohima. I am a Broadway-style singer and admire Kirsten Chenoweth for her work in the genre. She is an amazing Broadway star. Also, Christina Aguilera was, is, and will forever be my favorite. I finished my Bachelor in Arts …

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Bringing Forward Untold Stories | Meet Rita Krocha – Founder of PenThrill Publication House

Published by Shweta Rao

Rita Krocha is a writer’s writer. An owner of opinions that act as a cut-through voice in the noise that is contemporary literature. Which is to say that she has gone through the grind of a typical journalist and penned interesting stories throughout her career. As the owner of her book publishing company, PenThrill Publication House, Krocha is aiming to take that journey further. Read on to know more about Krocha, the simple writer behind some of the most intricately laden Indian fiction books today. Hi Rita, tell us a bit about yourself. When did you start working as a writer? My name’s Vishü Rita Krocha and I’m 34. I have a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication. I started my career in journalism as a weekly columnist in 2006 and later joined Eastern Mirror Daily in 2008 as a news correspondent and continued to write for them for five years. Later, I found myself interested in learning about the publishing industry. That’s why I decided to go for a certificate course in Book Publishing …

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Cosplay is a Serious Game for These Indian Cosplayers from Nagaland

Published by Roots & Leisure

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 …

Fashion Designer Khrielasier Liezietsu

“At the Age of 13, I Debuted my First Fashion Show” 20-Year-Old Fashion Student Khrielasier Liezietsu from Nagaland

Published by Shweta Rao

Meet  20-year-old fashion student and budding designer, Khrielasier Liezietsu comes from a breed of designers that are not made in design institutes or fashion houses. They are born with fire. Although he has just joined NIFT Delhi to pursue his passion, Khrielasier, at a very young age has already produced eight collections and participated in more than 30 fashion shows. We spoke with Liezietsu to find out more about his humble beginnings and sky-high ambitions. this  content Born and brought up in Kohima, Nagaland, Khrielasier Liezietsu is currently pursuing a degree in Fashion Design from NIFT, Delhi. R&L: When did you realize you wanted to be a fashion designer?  Khrielashier: I grew up very close to my mother and was constantly in her company. I used to watch her sew clothes for hours together. Slowly, my natural instincts told me to try my hands at the sewing machine. My mom was quick to notice my keen interest and encouraged me to start sewing clothes. I started sewing at the tender age of six and I never stopped loving …

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An Interview with Baker and Owner at Bakeforyou, Nagaland | Abigail Sitlhou

Published by Pooja Ghose

Have you ever gone on the adventure of going off book while following a baking recipe, and immediately regretting it? You know the results are almost always disastrous. Because the chemistry of baking doesn’t lend itself as naturally to experimentation as cooking does. So, when the professional bakers out there pick out one beautifully risen cake after another from an oven, know that those hands have seen many failures. Here’s a story of one such magic maker. Meet Abigail Sitlhou, 25, Owner & Baker of Bakeforyou – a home-based bakery in Kohima, Nagaland. Tell us a bit about yourself. I am a witty & fun loving person, who can laugh at the silliest of stuff when I’m around my kind of people. My hobbies are crafting and gardening. I am now a full-time baker and very satisfied with the profession I have chosen for myself. I am lucky that I have very supportive parents. When did you first start baking? I had always been fascinated with the art of cooking & baking . In the …

Meet the Artist Who Turns People Into Ridiculously Cute Doodles | Awele Kapfo from Nagaland

Published by Shweta Rao

Everybody loves doodling. There’s just something about an idle moment and a blank page that sparks ideas on our minds. When words fail to convey an idea, an ingenious doodle can blaze through our cognitive minds and set the world alight. Our featured artist for the week, creative doodle illustrator, and watercolor artist Awele Kapfo brings beautiful artwork to life. Let’s get to know her! Awele, 21 is a final year Economics student from Nagaland, whose cute and quirky illustrations are creating quite a buzz on social media. Your doodles look pretty awesome! How did you get started? My love for doodles began when I discovered an app called ‘Doodlr’ on Google Play. The app resembled Instagram – but for artists. Unfortunately, the developers could not keep up with the expenses of the server and it closed down this February.  That’s when I decided to (finally) join Instagram, and start putting up my watercolor illustrations resembling the doodles I used to make on ‘Doodlr’. I had started experimenting with watercolors after I saw the posts by a German water colorist …

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Finding Beauty in the Mundane – Captured on the Streets of Chiang Mai.

Published by Pooja Ghose

“I was wandering around the streets of my new neighborhood and this scene caught my eye from the road. I snuck through the front gate like a ninja and got as close as I could, behind him. I was in and out in seconds before he was alerted to my presence. This is a simple capture of a moment when he was engrossed in his daily ritual of cooking food.” ~Contributed by @beatthegrind     

RootsandLeisure_IncredibleOutdoors

Explore the Himalayas with Ashish Juyal | Founder of Incredible Outdoors

Published by Roots & Leisure

Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” What good is all the month-end rejoicing for a salary if you haven’t lived a little? Fortunately, there are some people among us who are living an adventurous life full of no regrets. They stand tall as inspirations. Roots & Leisure loves bringing to you their stories in the hope that they change your weekend plans for the better. So, say hi to Ashish Juyal, 28, who is a full-time traveler, trekker and biker, and permanently living in the Himalayas. Ashish is from a small town called Satpuli, in the state of Uttarakhand, but is currently living in Rishikesh, in the Himalayas. He loves traveling on his bike, trekking and meeting new people. He is into photography as well and loves capturing the beautiful landscapes and life of the people living in the Himalayas through his lens. He is also the founder of a travel and tour company called Incredible Outdoors that offers educational, camping, rafting and adventurous biking, motorcycle tours in the Himalayas, Rishikesh …

RootsandLeisure_IndigenousIndustries

Sustainable Fashion is the New Cool | Meet the Indo-French Duo Behind ‘Indigenous Industries’

Published by Pooja Ghose

Fast fashion fatigue is the new buzzword; and so is global warming as the apparel industry has an alarmingly high carbon footprint. And that’s why, more people are getting into responsible and sustainable practices of manufacturing textiles. Today we have one such company called ‘Indigenous Industries’, co-founded by an Indo-French duo. Here is an excerpt from a brief chat with co-founder Vincent Decléty. Vincent Decléty, a French expat joined hands with Aadil Ansari from Ahmedabad to start ‘Indigenous Industries’ with the aim to promote natural dyers and textile craftsmen – and in the process make sustainable garment manufacturing a reality. Vincent inspecting the freshly dyed Khadi fabrics | Indigenous Industries Vincent, tell us what Indigenous Industries is all about? My business partner Aadil, from Ahmedabad and I (from France) have been designing textile, manufacturing it, dyeing it, and either selling the end fabrics, or manufacturing garments for other brands or our own Indigenous Industries. We pride ourselves on the quality of our dyes and the originality of our fabrics. Today, we manufacture for brands from India as well as from …

RootsandLeisure_Thailand

Feeling Nostalgic | School Kids in Thailand on their Last Day of School

Published by Pooja Ghose

  “I was invited by a high school student to click photots on her last day of school  (Yupparaj Wittayalai School in Chiang Mai, Thailand). The students exchange gifts, flowers and photo collages, and take lots of pictures! It was a noisy day with excitement and nostalgia in the air. Overall a beautiful day. Happy to have helped capture those precious moments with their school friends”  ~ Photographer Madan FiveMonkey “We are really excited to be graduating but also sad that we will no longer see each other everyday. Maybe this is our last photo together! :'( “ “Take a picture of the two of us – me holding this big teddy!” “Hey I need one photo with the guys too!” “I think my friend needs some help here – too many gifts!”