9th Naga Loinloom festival 2023 began today at the weavers’ place, Diezephe village. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | December 6
Special focus on the natural fibres (stinging nettle plant and organic cotton), and the weavers, who are the producers were the key attributes of the 9th Naga Loinloom festival 2023, which began today here, at the weavers’ place, Diezephe village.
This edition, the Exotic Echo Society joined forces with more artisans from different villages and organisations in Nagaland. The Choklangan and Pathso Nokeng villages under Noklak district took part for the first time, showcasing their hand-woven creations under the brand name, ‘Ehlon-Nu,’ which specializes on hand-woven products made from stinging nettle plant, orange rhea plant and organic cotton.
The festival witnessed another new participant, ‘Leshemi Origins’ from Leshemi village under Phek district, where women have been the driving force in clothing the family, with their products sourced from stinging nettle and finished by hands, untouched by machines.
The other participants included Peren Touch, Miqlat Ministry, Singrijan Mothers’ Association, Medziphema, Yoruba village under Phek district, Diezephe and ‘Tukhu Rhi’ under Bade village. This particular brand, ‘Tukhu Rhi’ is a banana fibre project initiated by YouthNet to empower the grassroots community in Bade village by making use of sustainable resources to produce marketable crafts and products. YouthNet under this project has so far trained more than 100 youths, who are now training interested groups in different pockets of the State.
On the sidelines of the event, Vitono Haralu (Gugu) social activist and secretary, Exotic Echo Society said that while the society has been working for the last 15 years in capacitating and educating the weavers of their rights, one thing they have realised was “the need to be part of the process and not just for the end product,” inorder for the local artisans to grow and get the right support system.
“While everybody wants to showcase something, if you don’t strengthen the hands of the makers, you don’t take care of them and make them as the fundamental thing in the ecosystem,” she maintained.
Reiterating the need for the society to be part of the entire process of keeping alive the age-old traditions, she noted that no amount of money can bring back the traditional art, other than a replica.
While technology can be embraced in the process, “it has its own place,” she held, which cannot replace something that has been traditionally passed down for generations, which has been the lifestyle, the ecosystem that has been thriving in the Naga society, she added.
The society has been focusing on reviving organic cotton produce in the land, and they will strive to spread it to other districts. “Our effort is to partner, collaborate and celebrate this beautiful art that has been passed on,” Gugu added.
She implored everyone partaking in the festival to listen to the local artisans and care for them, and not simply buying the products out of sympathy, but to understand what it takes to keep the art alive, which will enliven the ecosystem of the Naga weavers and artisans.
“It requires each of us to go back to our native village and find out the craftsmen who tell stories and most importantly, strengthen the Naga society, politically, emotionally, socially and even individually.”
She believed that the Exotic Echo has been nurturing this aspect in their own way and they offer it as a token, in an act of gratitude to the Nagaland government, while expressing optimism that they “will grow bigger and better with all your blessings and support.”
Earlier, during the first day of the three-day event, the inaugural of the stall exhibition and demonstration was officiated by H Hangsing, Regional Manager, SBI Dimapur region and L Mongkum Jamir, President of BAN respectively. ‘Mon Aram,’ an initiative of Speak Guru Foundation was also introduced to the artisans by Bano. It is a healthcare package provider (HPP) designed to address the health insurance gap in Nagaland. The special benefits for the weavers of the Exotic Echo Society include free treatment for eye, womb and the back pain.
The day-long event included warping competition and snail-eating competition. Natural-dye workshop part 1 was held with Azizur Rahman, senior printer and Ashutosh Joshi, technical superintendent from Weavers Service Centre, Toluvi as resource persons. Flower workshop was held with florist, Elizabeth Humtsoe from Liz Fleuriste, a home-based floristry in Dimapur. Highlight of the second day include weavers dialogue, while the final day will be the Hornbill festival tour.
This year’s edition was held in collaboration with the Government of Nagaland, Nagaland Tourism, Weavers Service Centre, Ministry of textiles, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Coffee Lady, PAWF, Mon Aram, TaFMA Open House, Farmer’s Square, NEZCC, Lez Fleuriste, Providence Institute of Design & Media and Tune Tech.
