The Various Aspects Of Naga Art

Abstract

The research study is an attempt to analyze the various aspects of Naga art. Why and how such practices like the feasts of merit and headhunting exist and visual forms such as the colorful textiles, woodcarving, body tattooing, weapons and ornaments produced. Among the Nagas, art and rituals are interdependent; none of them complete without the other. Everyday activities like work in the fields, hunting, fishing, birth and dead, followed minute taboos and observances. Among the Nagas adherence to the prescribed rituals and taboos was strictly observed in their art, any deviations from the technical tradition were believed to bring ill-fortune such as death, famine, sickness or defeat in war. With very limited tools at their disposal, the Naga artisan skillfully reproduced traditional styles by simply visualizing the forms and lines mentally. Keywords – feasts of merit, headhunting, morung (men's ceremonial house), rituals, taboos