Ahangküha
Ahangküha is a traditional headgear of the Khiamniungans in Nagaland. It is only worn during folkdancing of the regular annual tribal and village festivals.[1]
Types of Headgear
Ahangküha | |
|---|---|
| Ahangküha archived in Patsho | |
History
[edit]In the olden days such conical hats, leggings(Hokthie), gauntlet etc. were made by the Khiamniungans and traded with other neighbouring communities.[2]
Craft
[edit]The frame of the hat is fine cane usually in red colour with red goats' hair and hornbill feathers on top frequently with a chain of tigers' claws that hangs around the chin.[3] Some are decorated with double transparent flat horns on both sides.[4] These are made from mithan's horn.[5]
Significance
[edit]These are made using more than twelve materials collected from the wild having a historical significance on each items. However, now people engaged in their making have difficulty in even sourcing the raw materials. To make authentic and need to be replaced with synthetic ones. Authentic headgear, is crafted from materials like tiger claws, wild boar teeth, hornbill feathers signifying wealth, wild goat hair, bear hair etc. all collectively signifies immense bravery and victory over enemies. Now, such materials are scarce and need to be replaced with synthetic ones.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Capt navtej s Khiamniungan tribe". www.linkedin.com. November 14, 2024.
- ^ "NAGALAND AND NAGAS OF MANIPUR Vibha Josh- Page-2". www.academia.edu. Nov 19, 2024.
- ^ "The Nagas Hill Peoples of Northeast India-manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, Naga diary three". wwwe.lib.cam.ac.uk. Nov 17, 2024.
- ^ "The Nagas Hill Peoples of Northeast India-manuscript - Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, Naga diary three". wwwe.lib.cam.ac.uk. Nov 17, 2024.
- ^ "The Pangsha Letters-An Expedition to Rescue Slaves in the Naga Hills - J. P. Mills With an introduction by his daughter Geraldine Hobson -Panso Section - Hat picture" (PDF). kohimaeducationaltrust.net. Nov 17, 2024.
- ^ "Weaving a Naga headgear, a craft slowly disappearing-The Morung Express". www.morungexpress.com. November 14, 2024.
- ^ "KOHIMA, NAGALAND, INDIA - December 1, 2007 : Naga tribesmen traditional outfit and headgear at Hornbill Festival". www.shutterstock.com. November 14, 2024.