Meet 22 year old designer Punasenla

Punasenla S Longkumer, a 22-year-old is very passionate about designing, as she grew older, she realised what she wanted to in her life, and she opted to go for fashion design rather than finishing her degree. “This is the best decision that I have made in my life and it is one decision without any regrets” she added. The young lady now works in Delhi.  She is from Mokokchung, Nagaland.

Narrating on her education, “I studied in my hometown till class 10 and went to Kohima Science College for my higher secondary studies. I came to Delhi to actually pursue a B.Sc degree in Life Sciences but after a semester I decided to quit it and study fashion design instead. So I went to South Delhi Polytechnic College for Women to study design in Delhi” she said.

Reluctant on her decisions taken, Punasenla says “it came as a shock to most people; I knew that this was what I always wanted to do.  My parents were, of course, shocked to hear from me that I wanted to give up my academic career and pursue fashion design but they stood by my decision and have supported me so far in everything that I do. My eldest sister who was staying with me in Delhi played a huge role in convincing my parents”.

When she was asked how she developed her interest in design, “I think I was always interested. In fact, when I was a kid, I have dismantled a quite a lot of old clothes that belonged to my mother in trying to create my own designs. Although it hardly worked at that age and often resulted in scolding’s, it was totally worth it.”

Punasenla retracting on her drawback remarks “when people do not understand what I am trying to achieve and pass random stray comments on how ugly it might turn out, it can be hurtful sometimes”.

Punasenla talked about her future plans, as in how to go about as she continues to fulfil her dreams. “In the next five years, I would definitely want to have my own label and own a fashion studio of my own. And maybe create a fashion revolution someday but who can tell what tomorrow would bring. I am also working on creating an online store. As of now; I try to reach out to people through my Facebook page as a lot of people from Nagaland as well as from other places are very active on FB. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration for me to say that Facebook has been my greatest boon in reaching out to people”.

On her design, “A lot of people have commented on the simple yet elegant designs of my collection. My designs have also been appreciated for its minimalistic but elegant notes. My mother, who also stitches, has always appreciated the smooth and flawless finishing touches of my work and that has been the best compliment I ever got”.

Punasenla doesn’t have any particular fashion icons or influence. “I am an artist and I work according to wherever my imagination leads me. I like freedom and love the idea of being unrestricted by boundaries. I am a little partial to the designs from Chanel because of the idea of the liberation that it stands for. Chanel doesn’t conform you to fixed identities”.

On her concluding note, she improvised, “the biggest lesson that I have learnt is to always pursue what you want and what you are good at no matter what people tell you. If you are a square peg, you will never fit into a round hole. Follow your dreams and the world is yours”.

Sangyu Pongen, the Chosen one

For all the Ao folks out there, am posting a video of a kid who is beyond the age of imagination. 

The language spoken in the video is in Ao dialect.

Sangyu Pongen is a young talented man who is doing his 12th standard in Jubilee Memorial School.

Some say "A true son of God and the Chosen one".

Not many people of 18 years will stand in a huge platform to preach the Gospel of God like him.

Check out his video............

Beatboxing battle in Nagaland

Beatboxing is where you dismantle your screwdrivers of your body and refit it with your rhythmic scribble sounds.  No wonder people have their own unique style of making noises called Beatboxing.

Northeast loves to pickup western materials, I feel it doesn’t take much time to understand the concept.

Beat Boxing is what I was looking for. I have asked many rappers whether they beat box or not. But sadly I couldn’t get one, thanks to Indihut. They have found an amazing talent for beat boxing...

Add caption

The 16-year-old kids in 10th Standard at Dainty Buds School Kohima, Nagaland, Zonimong and Chinglem battles in the classroom.

Zonimong is from Nagaland, while Chinglem is from Manipur.

 I had to drop in at their school and let them battle it out in their classrooms and boy they delivered says Yanpvuo.

The amazing talents the kids have makes us wonder , you should check the video and see how good they are....

Here is the video

Mr. Mache, the cunning guy from Naga Folktale

Naga Folktale about Mache

Picture representation 
Credit: .deccanchronicle.com

Mache is a very mischievous, sly and wily young man lived in a village of Nagaland. He was so full of tricks and lived to plague his fellow villagers in many ways. Mache used to rob children off their food every day, so the children told their parents and the parents took counsel to kill Mache. They asked, ”What shall we do with him?” to which Mache replied, “Shut me in a box and push me into the river, that will kill me.” And they said, “We will do so.” But when was put in the box and thrown into the river, he saw two girls fishing and said, “if you let me out I will fill your baskets full of fishes.” So the girls let him out and as they were going back to the far bank he defecated into their baskets and gave it to them. The girls, seeing what he had done, went to the village and complained that Mache had deceived them. Mache went back to the village and continued robbing the children off their food. So while the parents were discussing, Mache came to them again and said, “Pile up a lot of thatch on top of me and burn it, that will kill me.” And the man did so but instead the whole village got burnt while Mache escaped the burning village

On another occasion, Mache went riding along a road with a lot of ashes under his saddle, where he met a man and his mother. The old woman, being very tired from the journey said, “Please lend me your horse to ride on,” and her son said too, “Please if you are not tired, lend us your horse to get home.” To which he answered, “I am not tired, but if your mother rides on this horse all my money will turn to ashes.” But the old woman and her son, disbelieving this said, ”Oh, if they do, we will pay you back your money. How much have you got in the horse?” Mache replied that he have lots. Then the son said, “Alright, if necessary I will sell my rice fields and my houses and pay you. Mache said, “Very well, I will lend you my horse.” When the old woman got on the horse the ashes flew out. So she and her son straightaway sold their rice fields and paid the owner of the horse, and he, returning to his village, told the villagers that he had exchanged the ashes for money. They accordingly burnt down their houses and gathered the ashes to sell but no one would buy them.

Now let me get to how he got the ashes to put under his saddle in the first place. Mache’s brother was a rich man and has a large number of cattle. One day all his cattle fell over a precipice and were killed. Mache was sent to strip off all their hides. He hung them on the branches of a tree and made fire underneath it to dry them.

And as it was very cold that day, some men who were passing by with a lot of money sat near the fire to count the money. But unfortunately, the branches of the tree broke, and these men were frightened and ran off without their money. Mache who later returned to check on the hides found the money and told his fellow villagers that he had killed his cattle and sold their skins for money.

The credulous villagers killed their cattle too and flayed them and tried to sell them, but nobody would buy. Then they came back and burnt the deceiver’s house, he then gathered the ashes, mounted on his horse and deceived the old woman and her son.
By Akholu Zango

Naga folklore about how Universe was made

Every tribe has folklore to foretell with the generation to passed on.  We usually heard the stories from our grandparents as a kid. I believe our folktales needs to be retold. This is the folklore of how the universe was made. The stories may vary from one another but this is the story I have heard as a kid.

The Universe

In the beginning the universe consisted of the Sun, the Moon, the Sky and the Earth. Sun and Moon are husband and wife and Earth the wife of Sky. The Sun is as large as a field and he comes out only by day because he is afraid to go about at night. When he does come he is so ashamed by his cowardice, he flashes up and comes out like a lightning.

Once the Sun decided not to come out, the earth became dark and man couldn’t see anything, so man went to call him, but he came not. Then the bull went and called him, but he came not. Then the pig and after him the dog went and called the Sun, but still he did not come.

Even when the fowls called him he would not listen. So the rooster said, “Very well, I will come looking for you and if anything touches me I shall crow, and you will have to come out.” Since then, the Sun always comes out when the rooster crows for him.

In the moon there are nettles and a cotton tree. Like the Sun, she moves about while the Earth is still. The Sky who is the husband of Earth was smaller than the Earth. The Sky said to the Earth, “you are so big, I cannot cover you, fold up your knees so I can cover you.” So the Earth folded up her knees to let the Sky cover her, and that is why we have hills and valleys on Earth while the Sky is smooth. But even after folding her knees, all the Earth could not get covered, and one place got left outside. 

This place is known as Hedzura. There is no sky in Hedzura, and so they never see the sun there, but they have a precious stick by which they tell the time, and the light there is like a sort of moonshine. The wind in Hedzura is very strong. The wind blows so fiercely all year round and as a result people get old very quickly. They marry off their children one year and cannot recognise them the next. Hedzura is so far away that if a man wished to go there, he must start when he is born, otherwise he will die of age before he reach, growing old upon the road.

By Akholu Zango

Paradise destinations of North East India

It is definitely not a matter to shake off your wallet for expensive trips internationally especially when you’re long obsessed about that destination. North East India is one of the only region where nature awaits to welcome its visitors and probably you have no idea what it’s like if you have never been there. Part and parcel of the region were in comparison with famous destinations around the world. But the region is more than that with beauty engraved on its own everywhere. 

#1 One of the favorite destinations of all time Shillong is increasing visitors every year. The city is known as the “Scotland of the East” for its similar features and chilly like weather.

Credit: http://www.tourism-of-india.com/

#2 Sikkim is the place where you’ll be amazed by all the lustrous nature and its enshrining beauty everywhere. The snow clad definitely resembles the Switzerland which is why it is named as the second Switzerland.

Credit: http://www.adventurenation.com/

#3 Dzükou Valley of Manipur and Nagaland offers the best splendid valley. Many are longing to take a trip off to this enchanting valley.

#4 Shangestser lake (Madhuri Lake) of Araunachal Pradesh looks fierce but definitely the most calm and lovely.

Credit: http://i1.trekearth.com/

#5 Cherrapunji popularly known as the paradise land never fail to enrich the visitors with its differently amazing beauty.

Credit: http://www.tourism-of-india.com/

#6 Neermahal palace of Tripura is indeed one of its rare palace. After all who would miss a chance to visit a palace like no ordinary.

Credit: https://c2.staticflickr.com

#7 The Umiam lake of Shillong is yet another stunning beauty

Credit: http://www.holidayiq.com/

#8 The World's Largest River Island, Majuli, Assam captures thousands of hearts to the core.

Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org

#9 Aizawl city will definitely wrapped you with its breathtaking hills

Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia

#10 That fog and cool breeze of Kohima will melt your breath in no time. 

Credit: http://www.nativestation.in/

#11 How it would feel like to live on the mountain top and enjoy freshest of air and scenic view underneath, Gangtok is the right place.

Credit: https://upload.wikimedia.org

These are just a couple of list. Still lot more is yet to pen down.

By Aivo Rhakho
 https://www.facebook.com/aivo.rhakho1?fref=ts

    

Naga amateur fashion on my mind

The Northeast fashions get the talk to the town when it comes to dressing style and fashion taste. Unlike the rest of India, Northeast follows the western styles and also gets accustomed to Japanese and Korean way of dressing. Well you wouldn’t not be shock, if you actually come and visit the places yourself but if you are not, you have just miss a million of designs walking on the footpath or the roadside.

Tracing way back into history, Nagas were uncivilized until the British invaded Nagaland during the early Naga freedom Struggle, The British not only invaded the state but as well invaded the touch of culture, knowledge and education to the people. Thanks to them we have been suck by westernization. The fashion taste, the people thought have drastically changed.

Talking about the Korean Invasion, well it came through CD cassettes during the early 2O’s, and have proof a mark of its existence in the fashion trend setter. The Naga people have array in fashion style in many ways, be the gadgets, the dress style or the hair style.

The Nagas loves fashion that I speak with confidence, “Any kid growing up in Nagaland would have a sense of fashion and smell for branded matter no matter how rich or poor a person is”.

To give you a better insight of fashion in Nagaland, I give you some the amateur photos, to show the reality and their taste in fashion. None of them I belief is a modeller or a ramp walker but a just a normal person who loves fashion...

Let’s check the wardrobe...