Naga Cultural Attires and Musical Instruments

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This book is a documentation of beautiful Naga culture who live in the hills. Written by the Indigenous authors based on authentic information: this book claims to be an original one. It describes about the material cultural aspects of the Nagas associated with festival, ceremony, head hunting practice, song and dances.

As an explorative work, we are first publishing this volume before the non-material aspects of Naga culture in the second volume. The ornamental items, the war dresses and apparels used different Naga hillmen are systematically presented in this volume. The Naga socio-cultural beliefs and practices are meaningfully recorded in this study. One will find the trend of changes that are taking place so fast in contemporary Naga society and the essence of their culture by reading this documentary book. More interestingly, this book draws the attention of those persons who love culture and customs of the world. The techniques and methods of manufacturing various ornamental items, dresses and musical instruments are discussed in this book, apart from their typology uses and functions. This book will be immensely useful not only in the field of Sociology, Anthropology and History but in Theology of change. Thus, this book is addressed to all concerned persons who take interest in the field of culture and customs of the world in general and Naga culture in particular.

An explorer of Naga Traditional Culture, Late Kajen Mongro belongs to Longkhum Village. Son of Late Kikachiba and Late Nungsanglemia, bom on 27th April, 1930 in his native village. Late Kajen Mongro retained the descendant's name of Mongrok his clar's identity. His father was a talented singer from whom he learned the folk songs and playing all sort of traditional musical instruments. His father was once a Village Priest, the post ex lusively reserved for Yar-Mongro clan: recalling the two prominent migration leaders, Mongrochang and Yarangchang.

After early schooling at Longkhum village. Late Kajen Mongro matriculated from Govt. High School, Mokokchung in 1956: passed Intermediate Arts (1.A.) from St. Anthony's College Shillong, in 1958, graduating later from Fazi Ali College, Mokokchung in 1965, and took his B.Ed. still later from Nagaland College of Education in 1980. After his graduation he served as Head Master in his native village for several years. Then after, he worked as Head Master of Sabangya Govt. M.E. School Mokokchung, 1970-77 Sub-Inspector of Adult Education, Wokha, 1977-79; Inspector of Adult Education, 1981-84 and Cultural Officer Academy of Music and Dance, Kohima Nagaland under the Directorate of Arts and Culture from 26th December, 1984 and retired in 1994.

As a poet and promoter of Naga Culture, Late Kajen Mongro has published his first book, entitled 'AOR NARO KEN" (The Flower Songs of the Aos) in 1987. detailing the indigenous flowers of Nagaland enriching the flower culture of the people, Late Kajen Mongro got married with Nangshimongla Soya, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Tsuknungmeren of Longkhum village in 1962 Leaving his dearest wife, two sons and four daughter, Kajen Mongro passed away on 14.3.96 at the age of 66 years and his body was buried in his native village Longkhum on 15.3.96

Late Kajen Mongro's next attempt was to publish this book after retirement from active service in 1994. But due to his ill health, this book could not be published when he was still alive.

Right from his boyhood, Late Kajen Mongro was a lover of songs, dance, art and festivals. He was a talented person in the field of Naga Culture. As a Master-Trainer of Culture and Art, Late Kajen Mongro was a man of wisdom. His contribution in the field of Naga Art and Culture is very significant and recordable His book entitled, Aor Naro Ken, (The Flower Songs of the Aos) is one of the living examples which he published in 1987 He was a modeller of Naga Culture and worked for the cause of preserving and promoting it till his last breath.

Throughout his career, he was practicing his native culture which he loved most. He had collected huge amount of information on Naga Culture pertaining to various tribes. It was an additional privilege for him to join in the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Nagaland, which he earned to serve as a Cultural Officer in the Academy of Music and Dance since 1984 till his retirement in 1994 He had attended in many occasions of Art and Culture Programmes at different levels and collected invaluable materials. He gained more knowledge by attending seminars, workshops, group discussions, trainings and cultural exposure activities both inside and outside the State of Nagaland. This book is, thus, the outcome of such experiences and his special interest towards the promotion and preservation of Naga culture through such documentation works. Because of these, he earned immense appreciation in the field of Fine Arts and Culture. He left behind us many lessons to be learned by the youngsters through this documentation work. Late Kajen Mongro was a practical man and lived a modest life.

**Contents and Sample Pages**