Lotha Naga Traditional Dress: Couple at Hornbill Festival (Photo)

The Lotha Nagas are one of the major tribes of Nagaland, and their traditional dress, especially their richly patterned shawls, is among the most distinctive in the state. Here is a Lotha Naga couple in full traditional attire, photographed at the Hornbill Festival 2019.

A Lotha Naga couple in traditional dress at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, Kohima, during the Hornbill Festival 2019.

Who Are the Lotha Nagas?

The Lothas are one of the major Naga tribes of Nagaland. They come from Wokha district, often called "the land of plenty." The word "Wokha" literally means "census" or "headcount."

Wokha is also known for the Doyang river and for Pangti village, where lakhs of migrating Amur falcons roost every autumn, which has earned the area the title "Falcon Capital of the World." The Lothas' biggest festival is Tokhu Emong, a post-harvest festival celebrated in November.

Lotha Naga Traditional Dress

Like most Naga tribes, the Lothas express identity and social standing through their shawls. Traditionally, the patterns on a Lotha man's shawl showed his status and the number of feasts of merit he had given to the community. Among the best-known Lotha shawls are the Longpensu and the Phangrhup, worn by men, and the Opvuram, a prestigious shawl for women.

Lotha women complete their attire with handwoven wraparound skirts (mekhalas) and colourful bead necklaces, while men add ornaments, a sash and, on ceremonial occasions, a spear and dao. The cloth is still woven by Lotha women on traditional loin looms in villages across Wokha.

About the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

Nagaland is a hilly state in Northeast India and home to many Naga tribes, each with its own festivals. Most of these festivals are tied to agriculture and the harvest, since farming has long been central to Naga life.

Organised by the state's Tourism and Art & Culture departments, the Hornbill Festival is held every year from 1 to 10 December at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 10–12 km from Kohima. Each tribe sets up its own morung (traditional hut), so visitors can experience the food, songs, dances and customs of all the Naga tribes in one place. The festival aims to revive, protect and showcase the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland.

Festival highlights include:

• Traditional Naga morungs exhibition
• Folk dances and folk songs
• Demonstrations of traditional practices
• Arts and crafts, and food stalls
• Flower shows, fashion shows and beauty contests
• Naga wrestling and indigenous games

During the festival, night carnivals in Kohima and Dimapur offer street food, shopping and family outings.

Have you seen the Lotha Naga traditional dress at the Hornbill Festival or Tokhu Emong? Share your experience in the comments!