Ollo tribe of Arunachal in Nagaland

A community event of the Ollo community of Arunachal Pradesh living in Nagaland. The community celebrated their 4th Woraang Festival at the local ground of Purana Bazar-B, in Dimapur on May 29 Saturday.

Photo by: Temshi

The Ollo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh is currently residing in Namyung Township in the eastern regions of Nagaland and in Naga-inhabited areas of Tirap and Changland districts in Arunachal Pradesh.

Woraang festival is one of the community’s most important festivals, among the 12 others celebrated annually.

Literally, ‘Woraa’ means ‘Hornbill’ while ‘raang’ denotes ‘decoration.’ Hence, Woraang means ‘beautifully dressed like a hornbill’. The festival is celebrated after completion of jhum cultivation during April and May.

 

Photo by: Temshi

History:

The Ollos live in two distinct countries. They are settled in the adjoining hill tracts of extreme north-eastern part of India, Arunachal Pradesh or NEFA, known as North-East Frontier Area, and Myanmar (Burma). So far, the size of the area could not be measured due to distinct national complexities, and as a result it is unknown to us. Even though they live in two distinct countries, they know each other, share their common interests, and help each other. As they are of the same blood, they maintain a close relationship. It is a very interesting thing to note that the international boundary cannot part their matrimonial, fraternal, clannish, and social relationships between them. They speak the same dialect, practice the same religion, and follow the same traditions and customs. Through a personal interview with Moben, it is learnt that about 30 percent of the villages of Ollo tribal group live in Indian region while almost 70 per cent of themlive in Myanmar region today

The Ollos construct houses made of stilts, although the chief's houses of the villages are constructed with massive carved blocks and wooden pillars. Dormitories are provided for bachelors and unmarried woman separately. According to their tradition, it is a place where the elders teach the children about traditional mythology, folklore and religion. Today, Christian teaching is also mixed with traditional teaching.

Photo by: Temshi

 Source: http://www.languageinindia.com/may2015/rhakhoollopeople.pdf, eastern mirror
By Azhove Resu

Naga's were known as Headhunter's in olden days

 Basically in the olden days, Naga's were known for headhunting. 

Source: www.kashgar.com.

Nagaland is a hill state located in the extreme north-east of India, bounded by Burma in the east; Assam in the west; Arunachal Pradesh and a part of Assam in the north; and Manipur in the south. In addition to the state of Nagaland, Naga tribes are found in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and the northwestern hill tracts of Burma

The Story of the headhunters told by our grandfathers.... 

The headhunters headhunt and collect it as a trophy, as for the person who has the most head becomes the most powerful person in the village. The village was guarded by such person for the enemy not to enter the land. 

Source: en.wikipedia.org

The village are guarded by the Chief to takes care of them. The villages wasn't a safe place for a foreigner to visit such places during the olden days... .. 

Source; nagalandjournal.wordpress.com

It is still a myth where people get scared of naga's because the forefather were. The new generation doesn't practice anymore, but the story continue on.... 

After the Christianity came to Nagaland in the early nineties, the headhunter stop headhunting people...
  

According to AK Rong Mjr, he said  “Living in a land where a head & feast of merit was their pride”. They strongly believe in what they believe, lived, life simply & worked hard. Those were the days when speaking was their only medium to exchange words, never a day did they failed to fallow their tradition & culture, bringing forth to generations. Truth was their daily bread. Amidst fear of being beheaded, they glorified peace & Brotherhood. Those were the days that are no more. Yet, time are changing, we have to catch up with time. changed,we are living now. The pride of head hunting & feast of merit is now but getting decreased. While doing so can we preserve & fallow our tradition & culture as them? Can we glorify peace & Brotherhood as them? Can we believe in what we believe? Can we speak in what they spoke? Toil as hard as they were? Is our daily bread-THE TRUTH?let us generate & not degenerate from the past values they have deservedly earned. If we failed to remember this, we cannot say "I AM A PROUD SON OF THIS SOIL".

History

The Naga tribes practised headhunting and preserved the heads of enemies as trophies through the 19th century and as late as 1969.Generally, the traditional customs of the Naga, as well as their lifestyle, are very similar to those of the Wa people further to the Southeast and the numerous parallels between the societies and traditions of the Naga and the Wa have been pointed out by anthropologists such as J.P. Mills and J.H. Hutton

Source: http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20140811-indias-last-surviving-headhunters

Some of the clips that remained in youtube for people to  watch... 

The documentary filmed by Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf in 1970. Broadcast by the BBC in the 1970's and based on fieldwork carried out in Nagaland and Arunchal Pradesh. The film is part of a large archive of footage shot by Haimendorf in the Himalayas. 

On my radio show, National Geographic Weekend, I talk about finally getting to visit Nagaland and meeting some of the last of the headhunters. One of the oldest headhunters gives me a personal demonstration of the tribal warfare techniques he used to take three heads in battle.

By Azhove Resu

The Weeping Tree in Dimapur

On a hot summer around 30 degrees Celsius on thursday evening at Dimapur near faith hospital, a  large number of people came to witness a strange sight. . The water dripping from a coral tree (Erythrina) falling from the tree branches and leaves spread like wild fire in Dimapur, more than hundreds of people rushed to witness the occurrence, which some believed was “supernatural”.

People worshiping the tree bark

The news spread far and wide, many of them came just to get a glimpse of the tree, taking pictures and even selfies on their cellphones.

Many Hindu followers believed it was a miracle and flee to the place from far and near around Dimapur to witness. They did their Puja, drank the water and left.

In an awe miracle, a pandit was spotted with lot's of hindus throwing money and worshiping the tree in the evening, a witness said.  Some passerby heard the Hindu priest saying “it was their God telling them to build temple at that spot”.

People doing their puju over the tree

However people living in the vicinity of the tree said it was a yearly occurrence, the source confirms. .

In Angami, we called this tree as Hietobuo, with it people make wheel for wooden vehicle(for kids, years back then...). The water coming out from it is nothing new, it is it's nature in Summer. In early days, people plant this tree in the boundaries so that the water coming out from it will make a small stream (Nala) around the area and leaves a perfect boundary between two. So, nothing is unusual, its Summer Meno Kuotsu said.

 Attempting to make a hilarious statement out the tree, Aman Konyak said “It's a sign that dimapurians will get roasted this summer, even the tree has started to sweat”.

A long shot of the scene.. 

Scientific explanation

The recent bout of rainfall has raised the soil moisture content forcing water into the roots of the tree which is in turn pushed up to the leaves through the xylem. This excess water is extruded through specialized openings in the leaves. This phenomenon is most evident when atmospheric humidity is high, as is now, which reduces water loss through transpiration. In other words, this plant is merely sweating off its excess water content according to Lanu Jamir.

Drops of the water falling from the tree

Drops of water on the tree leaf

Tree of the coral reefs 

Note: The Photos are taken from whatsapp. I am not accountable for their copyright... 

By Azhove Resu

You need to have a look at the unseen beauty of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most beautiful state among the northeast. The beauty of the place is yet to be unexplored in different place.

It belongs to the no mans land where the nature is at peace.

History

Arunachal Pradesh  is one of the seven sisters in northeast India.

Arunachal Pradesh borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Bhutan in the west, Burma in the east and China in the north. Itanagar is the capital of the state.

The people native to the state trace their origins to theTibeto-Burman people

I l take you to some beautiful places around Arunachal .

The pic below is taken in Arunachal by Kuru Tadii‎ on his visit.

Tawang Monastery

 Anyone wishing to visit Tawang but still having a second thought, I'd say go andindulge yourself to the fullest with nature's pristine beauty. You'll not regret even for a second to have chosen Tawang as your destination

 During the Murung Festival in Arunachal 

Loss of Culture Lose of Identity 

Dress in traditional attire 

The festival has just began

      Man made bridge #Komsing #Arunachal

                          

Apatani Women at Ziro in Arunachal 

                            

     Talley Valley #Ziro #Arunachal#10000ft Above Sea Level #Trekking

                                                   #SiangRiver #Arunachal

     Beautiful lake in a remote #Taksing #Arunachal#No Road Connectivity

                                                 

                                         River Papom #Arunachal

By Azhove Resu

The only Living Bridge in the world

Have you ever thought that a bridge would be still living, beneath the daily ferry passerby.

You could imagine yourself walking in that bridge if you visit northeast india and go to Shillong and take a route to Cherrapunji.

On the way to Cherrapunji.

Are you a nature lover?

The beauty scenery around the locality of the place is beyond the reach.  You can have a pleasant weekend when you visit the place.

Double living root bridge in East Khasi Hills
Source: By Arshiya Urveeja Bose - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17238490

Living root bridges are a form of tree shaping common in the southern part of the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya.

Walk through the living bridge

Eagles eye

The pliable tree roots are made to grow through betel tree trunks which have been placed across rivers and streams until the figs' roots attach themselves to the other side. Sticks, stones, and other objects are used to stabilize the growing bridge This process can take up to 15 years to complete. The useful lifespan of any given living root bridge is variable, but it is thought that, under ideal conditions, they can in principle last for many hundreds of years. As long as the tree they are formed from remains healthy, they naturally self-renew and self-strengthen as their component roots grow thicker.

Living root bridges are known to occur in the West Jaintia Hills district and East Khasi Hills district.

View of the Bridge
Source: By Anselmrogers - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44099496

By Azhove Resu

The place you should be during the first week of December in Northeast India.

Are you planning to visit Northeast India? 

Well you are just on the right spot to go.

If you wanna spend a week in Nagaland, the first week of December will be the best suitable time for u.

Because in the first week of December in Nagaland, Hornbill Festival begans.

This festival introduced all the different tribes in Nagaland to showcase their own identity. one such place is there for you to see at one shot.

A Visit to Kisama (Naga Heritage Village) during Hornbill Festival would give you a brief introduction about Naga culture as a hold.

The Hornbill festival is one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in North East, with its main intention to showcase and promote the rich culture and traditions. Over the years it has become an international festival with massive growing rate of tourists every year. It is believed that the name ‘Hornbill’ is derived from the colourful forest bird hornbill which popularly become as the “Hornbill Festival.”

The entry to Naga Heritage Village 

Entry to village

A "Heritage Village" is  on a hillock at 'Kisama' , 10 Kms. away from Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Quarters of all the 17 Naga tribes have been erected here along with a small open air theatre for various cultural programs held during the Hornbill festival.

Source: By Vikramjit Kakati - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37284975

The Hornbill festival is a celebration held every year in the first week of December, in Nagaland, North-east India. It is also called as the 'Festival of Festivals'.

In the heritage village, the nagas showcase theirs traditional dances, folk song and their art form.   

Hatch 

Naga House

In Attire

Curving of the Naga tribe

The lady in attire 

Headhunters sketch

Sketch of an old lady

Sculpture of the Head hunters 

Showcase of the sketch of Elvis Presly in Kisama

By Azhove Resu