{"id":39844,"date":"2020-10-10T08:17:59","date_gmt":"2020-10-10T06:17:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=39844\/"},"modified":"2020-10-18T13:05:25","modified_gmt":"2020-10-18T11:05:25","slug":"khonoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/khonoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Khonoma, the green village of Nagaland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Khonoma \u2026 I had planned to stay there for only one day, I almost settled there! This ancient village has a real enchanting power, which instantly gives you a feeling of tranquility and serenity. Its discreet, yet welcoming inhabitants, and its preserved environment are a treat for travelers who enjoy the simple things in life and meeting authentic people.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
The enchanting village of Khonoma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The village of 3400 inhabitants and over 500 years old, takes its name from the local aromatic plant known as “Khw\u00fcno”. The ancestors thus baptized the village “Khw\u00fcnomia”, ie the inhabitants of the place where the Khw\u00fcno grows. During the British colonization, for practical reasons of language, it was renamed Khonoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The fort of Khonoma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Nagas Angamis<\/strong> of Khonoma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Khonoma\"
A depiction of a Naga Angami warrior in the village of Khonoma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This village of 3,400 souls, now very peaceful, was for a long time the stronghold of the ferocious “Nagas Angamis” who resisted until 1880 against the British invader. Many leaders of the “Naga National Movement” were born here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
Young and lovely inhabitants of Khonoma \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Angami were originally “head-cutter” warriors, and spent much of their time waging war against the surrounding villages. As a symbol of their power, they chopped off the heads of their enemies. In 1896, when the British annexed their territory, the inter-village quarrels gradually ended.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"<\/a>
Terraced rice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Nagas Angami, whose language is of Tibetan-Burmese type, generally inhabit the mountainous regions of Nagaland and depend mainly on agriculture and livestock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are notably known for the cultivation of terraced rice such as of Khonoma, which is one of the oldest in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
Rice drying<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1896, when the British annexed their territory, inter-village quarrels gradually ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British also brought Christendom ; a vast conversion of the population took place throughout Nagaland. Nowadays 90% of the population of Nagaland is Catholic, only a handful of Nagaland people keep their animist traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
Photo of village youth in traditional Naga Angami attire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Khonoma, a<\/strong> green village<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Khonoma is traditionnally a village of hunters. It has chosen, however, ecological development, establishing systems for managing natural resources and resolving conflicts between villagers, all that with a determined will to conserve biodiversity and wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1998, the village council of Khonoma declared its intention to create a 2000-hectare nature reserve known as the “Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary”(KNCTS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KNCTS has now become a privileged area for the observation of birds such as the Blyth tragopan, the mountain bamboo partridge or the crested Finchbill to name but a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
Tragopan of Blyth | Photo : Nick Michalski<\/a>
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To assert its desire for sustainable development, Khonoma has also opted for organic farming of all its crops. I still remember the incomparable taste of meals taken in the guesthouse with vegetables freshly picked from the organic garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
A healthy meal served by my hosts, directly from the organic vegetable garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Morungs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In the village, you will come across the famous ‘morungs\u2019 (boys dormitories) a kind of chalet with swords on the top ; They are places of education for the boys of the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khonoma\"
A morung<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Those richly decorated wooden houses are built on the same model; Outside, benches are placed around a fire and inside, a long common bed of about 15 places is carved in a single trunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these morungs, the duty of the ancients is to inculcate moral values, social responsibilities, craftsmanship (see below), agriculture, various sports such as wrestling and folkloric traditions such as songs and native games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As modern life gradually enters the village, this tradition of morungs, although less followed, still finds its place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The long common bed of the Morung<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Crafts of<\/strong> Khonoma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The workshop of a basket maker in the village<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Khonoma is the home of many master craftsmen in the field of basketry and weaving.
The forests of Nagaland are rich in bamboo and cane. Thus, the art of basket making amongst the Nagas is very developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A “hophi” basket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The very characteristic basket of the Angamis, called khophi, is made by men only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a bell-shaped basket with a square base and four feet. He also has a braided head strap that the women adjust on their forehead. Women lift them to pick up wood, or to carry harvests like rice and vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lady of Khonoma carrying the hophi loaded with vegetables from her vegetable garden<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The other traditional craft of Khonoma is weaving. The Angami women are expert weavers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several types of traditional clothing are worn by the Angamis; the predominant model is the ‘Loramhoushu’, a fine wool shawl with white, red and black stripes and the lohe with black, red and green stripes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ Video of the weaving in Khonoma ]<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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