Naga shawls are traditional shawls with a distinctive pattern (primarily in red and black wool) made by various Naga ethnic groups from Nagaland and its neighbouring areas in Northeast India.
List of Naga shawls
Ao Naga shawls
Tsüngkotepsü
The Tsüngkotepsü is a warrior shawl of the Ao Nagas of Nagaland. Traditionally, the Tsüngkotepsü can only be worn by warriors who had successfully taken the heads of enemy warriors, In modern times, the right to wear the Tsüngkotepsü is associated with performing a mithun sacrifice, a demonstration of wealth and are a distinctive symbol of the Ao Nagas.
Chakhesang Naga shawls
The Chakhesang Naga shawl has the Geographical Indication Tag. It was the third from Nagaland to be granted the GI registration after Naga King Chilli and Naga Tree Tomato. While the ‘Chakhesang Shawl’ is listed under the category of ‘Handicrafts’, the other two is registered under ‘Agricultural’ product under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
Khiamniungan Naga Shawl
Nütsah
The Khiamniungan Naga Shawl that has circles of cowrie shells is called Shiehtsap nie. But the exact same shawl without cowrie shells is called Nütsah. The shells was attached as a symbol of feasts of merit which the owner has hosted, dipicting the shining stars in the sky during a nightly raid, or the moon and thus female fertility. The huge stylized human figure on the Nütsah indicates the owner’s accomplishment in headhunting war. In those days such shawls could only be worn by distinguished accomplished warriors and wealthy men in the society.
The red square that has 9x7 red blocks depicts fierce bloody war champion and the blue lines is a symbol of dominant disposition of all mankind.
Notes and references
External links
https://web.archive.org/web/20090106230212/http://ignca.gov.in/craft256.htm Interesting coverage of a variety of Naga textile and other crafts. http://www.craftandartisans.com/tribal-textiles-of-nagaland.html Tribal textiles of Nagaland