Pandemic takeaways from Nagaland  Atono Tsükrü Kense  Kohima | December 18 The COVID-19 pandemic has upturned lives in ways no one could ever imagine. It not only changed the way people normally live and work, but also the way people think and act.  Besides the numerous negative impacts on all aspects of lives, this pandemic, for many has been a time to slow down and reflect on life. From valuing human connection, appreciating life and appreciating th

Morung Express News Dimapur | December 18 Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to restrict commercial and economic activities, an undertaking of Government of Nagaland has found a novel way to market its products to once again show that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way.’ ‘Meraki’, a brand specialized in ‘woods and weaves’ is picking pace towards becoming a household name since its online launch on November 23 last. An ini

Kekhriesilie Rio pins sight on Asiad and Olympics  Morung Express News Dimapur | December 14 Horse-riding as a sport is little known in India, let alone the north-east region. Moreover, there is hardly any media publicity promoting or writing about equestrian events in the country.  Unbeknownst to most, this sport has brought international level medals to India, the most recent one being an individual silver won by Fouaad Mirza in the ‘Eventing’ discipli

Vaccination coverage improves, decline in infant mortality rate: NFHS-5 report Morung Express News Dimapur | December 13 The mortality rate among infants and children under 5 years of age in Nagaland showed a decline in Nagaland while the State also registered an increase in the underweight and stunted children of the same age group. The worrying figures in nutritional status of children are as presented in the fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) released by Union He

Morung Express News Dimapur | December 13  Sales of automobiles continued its upward trend in Nagaland in October and November according to the database on vehicle registration maintained by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). The trend is continuing into the festive December as per the data available till December 13.  According to the VAHAN Dashboard, vehicle registration in the state increased from 1449 in October to 1,990 in November signif

Morung Express News Dimapur | December 13  The registration of vehicles in Nagaland during the January-November period this year was down by 46.68%.  Registration of various cars, as of December 13, was down drastically across the board when compared with the last year, though an upward trend is visible since August.     However, some relatively ‘high-end’ vehicles seem to be bucking the lockdown blues and their registrations’ were higher

Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | December 10 Even as the 21st edition of the famed Hornbill Festival went virtual this year, there was hardly any air of festivity from December 1-10, a period which normally reverberates with frenzied activities in the State.  Many people also did not join the ‘Virtual Hornbill Festival 2020’ that was broadcasted on the three news channels. Some who did expressed disappointment with it.  “We have built Hornbill Festi

Ketholeno Neihu Kohima | December 7 Nagas have long been subjects of many anthropological studies across the globe and it has been a trend for tourists or scholars to visit Nagaland and take back tribal artifacts or ‘souvenirs’ from their visit. However, in a very startling occurrence, a parcel from the United States of America containing a tribal necklace along with an unsettling note arrived at the lone State Museum in Kohima last month, almost three months after i

Kanili Kiho Dimapur | December 6 Arenlong Longkumer from Nagaland grew up in a home filled with music. He has been playing the guitar since the age of 10 when his father bought him an acoustic guitar and showed him a few chords. It was there that he fell in love with the strings. Growing up in Alichen under Mokokchung district, a normal day for Arenlong as a child included listening to a lot of music, the vinyl record collection which the family has, to this day. He says that pa

Five Naga footballers come home to launch Dimapur Division League Ashikho Pfuzhe Dimapur | December 5 They are a in a league of their own when it comes to displaying prowess and skills in the football pitch. But the COVID-19 pandemic brought them together to set their sights on a common goal - the Dimapur Division League (DDL) which they launched in October this year. Meet Wonito Akashe Zhimomi, Kevilhulie Zakiesato, Tove Hokato Zhimomi, Hitova Ayemi and Inonito Ghukhui Zh

Atono Tsükrü Kense  Kohima | December 4 Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic which has severely impacted the already resource deficit state of Nagaland, the State Government has been emphasising on ‘self-reliance’ in the agri-allied sector to intensify crop cultivation and increase production to face the challenges of food crisis. Basically, Nagaland is an agrarian state. Agriculture has been the main source of livelihood and occupation of the

Morung Express Feature  Kohima | December 4 The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted churches and ministry works in several ways. But while it demanded the cancellation of Sunday Worship Service for successive months, churches have also enhanced the use of digital resources.  Faith Harvest Church in Kohima witnessed their media evangelism explode beyond their imaginations, enabling them to reach a global audience. “The mad, rat race of the world that causes on

Morung Express News Kohima | December 3 The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped 24-year-old Vemele Dawhuo from following a dream close to his heart. While many businesses have shut down during the COVID-19 lockdown, Dawhuo today ventured into a new enterprise by opening a restaurant called ‘Le Bistro’ which was formally inaugurated by Isak Kronu, Class I Contractor at Puro Complex, near Supply Office in Kohima this afternoon. Vemele Dawhuo had earlier worked outside th

Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | December 1 While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all sections of society, it has posed extraordinary challenges for societies already experiencing armed conflict, structural violence, poverty, and unemployment. Anthropologist Dolly Kikon notes that in Nagaland “reports of domestic violence and mental health escalated during the pandemic risking the lives and security of women and children.” Referring to a 2020 Nagaland State Social

Morung Express News Kohima | November 29 19 years old David Rutsa from Nagaland recently won the North East India Beatbox Online Championship 2020 in a tough battle among talented beatboxers in North East India. David, who performs under the stage name ‘Coffee’, hails from Kohima and is currently a 1st semester student at Capital College Kohima. Rutsa is a well known beatboxer among the growing beatboxing community in Nagaland. He also came in 2nd at the Top Acts Fin

Morung Express News Kohima | November 29 One’s best years should be spent serving one’s community and village, and the best service is to lead by example, according to the ‘Four Brothers,’ a start up based in Jotsoma, Nagaland.  Started by cousins Bode Peseyie, Kevitsosie Nagi, Kedoneisie Nagi and Keneitsolie Nagi, ‘Four Brothers’ specializes in carpentry works and electrical trade. With the growing unemployment in Nagaland, the &lsquo

Veroli Zhimo Dimapur | November 28 2020 has revealed that one of the many far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increase in violence against women—a concern that was shared by the National Commission for Women in October when it revealed that domestic violence complaints have increased by 2.5 times since the nationwide lockdown began in India. This alarming increase  has even earned the moniker 'the shadow pandemic.' In Nagaland, an online

Veroli Zhimo Dimapur | November 28 To better understand how stigma, fear and lack of legal or societal support often deters women from filing complaints against rape and other forms of violence, The Morung Express spoke to victims of domestic violence.  While there are many causative factors, in the back drop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations had observed that the combination of economic and social stresses along with other lockdown measures, have dramatically in

Possibly just a half hour long virtual programme, says Tourism Secretary Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | November 27 Amid the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Hornbill Festival that has put Nagaland in the global tourist map will go completely virtual this year. The annual 10-day festival will possibly be reduced to about half an hour and telecasted on December 1.  “By virtual Hornbill, we mean absolutely virtual. We are not having dancers performing, we are not ev

Rebecca K Kits Dimapur | November 26 FIFA World Cup in the 80s and 90s was a time when almost half the locality would crowd at the house of the lone television owner in the colony. The young and old alike would cheer for their respective teams. One name that stood out among football fanatics in Nagaland was Diego Maradona. His infamous ‘hand of God’ goal which saw the elimination of England from the World Cup in June 22, 1986 was just the kind of entertainment foo