Angami Naga Attire

The Angami Naga people are one of the major Naga tribes inhabiting northeastern India, primarily in the Kohima and Dimapur districts of Nagaland. They are further divided into four sections based on their geographical locations, but they share common Naga cultural elements and have a deep-rooted connection to their heritage. The Angamis speak the Tenyidie language, of Tibeto-Burman origin, which is mostly written in the Roman script.

Angami Men and Women celebrate the Sekrenyi festival.

Angami Men during the Sekrenyi Festival

The traditional attire of an Angami man includes Neitho, a kilt-like garment usually made from handwoven cotton. It typically has two long strings attached to the inner edges to secure the cloth at the waist and cover the lower body. Some Neithos are ornamented with cowrie shells that are sewn to the border of the garment. A Neitho adorned with three horizontal lines each, with space intervals, signifies the achievement or the status of the wearer. A Neitho with four lines of cowrie shells indicates that the wearer has killed an enemy and was used to signify acts of valour performed in battles.

To cover their torsos, Angami men wear the Terha (sash) with a multicoloured lozenge pattern. This is usually worn with matching arm bands made of red-dyed cane with yellow orchid motifs and armlets of ivory or animal bones.

A 20th-century Sash of the Angamis with a Lozenge Motif

Angami Men wearing Sula (headdress) during the Sekrenyi Festival
Image Source: YouTube

During the Sekrenyi (harvest festival) celebrations, Angami men wear a ceremonial headdress made of bamboo spikes decorated with cockerel feathers and coloured threads. It is adorned with several long sashes and colourful ribbons at the rear. The headdress is relatively heavy and is secured in place by a string that is tied to the frame and then held in front of the wearer’s chest.

The “Phichu-Pfe” is a distinct shawl worn exclusively by the Angami Naga priests during religious ceremonies and rituals. It is a symbol of their spiritual role and authority within the community.

The central piece of an Angami woman’s traditional attire is the Loramhoushu. It is a white wraparound skirt secured at the waist, with four black marginal bands along its length and breadth. On each of these black bands are pink or red narrow accents. Underneath that, women wear a garment called Neikhro to provide additional coverage to the lower body.

For daily use, Angami women wear a more practical, comfortable two-piece clothing set known as a Lohe suit. The Lohe is primarily black, with red and green marginal stripes. Traditionally, Angami women also wore a sleeveless bodice called vatchi, though modern blouses have largely replaced this. Cotton, silk and woollen yarns are the basic raw materials used for weaving by the Angamis.

An Angami Woman wearing a Loramhoushu and Traditional Ornaments
Image Source: Ketoulhounuo Khezhie

An Angami Woman wearing a Lohe Suit
Image Source: Ketoulhounuo Khezhie

Angami women are known to adorn themselves with colourful bead necklaces. These necklaces combine different types of beads, such as oblong red carnelian, white shell, and black glass. Bone spacers are used to separate and hold the beads in place, creating a structured and visually appealing arrangement.

These elements of the traditional Angami attire are worn with reverence during cultural events, festivals, and ceremonies to showcase their culture and heritage. Their diversity and uniqueness contribute to the vibrant cultural mosaic of North-East India.