Art The Naga people love colour, as is evident in the shawls designed and woven by women, and in the headgear that both sexes design. Clothing patterns are traditional to each group, and the cloths are woven by the women. They use beads in variety, profusion and complexity in their jewellery, along with a wide range of materials including glass, shell, stone, teeth or tusk, claws, horns, metal, bone, wood, seeds, hair, and fibre. According to Dr.
Verrier Elwin, these groups made all the goods they used, as was once common in many traditional societies: Craftwork includes the making of baskets, weaving of cloth, wood carving, pottery, metalwork, jewellery-making and bead-work. Weaving of colourful woolen and cotton shawls is a central activity for women of all Nagas. One of the common features of Naga shawls is that three pieces are woven separately and stitched together. Weaving is an intricate and time-consuming work and each shawl takes at least a few days to complete. Designs for shawls and wraparound garments (commonly called
mekhala) are different for men and women. Among many groups the design of the shawl denotes the social status of the wearer. Some of the more known shawls include
Tsüngkotepsü and
Rongsü of the Aos;
Sütam, Ethasü, Longpensü of the Lothas;
Süpong of the Sangtams,
Rongkhim and
Tsüngrem Khim of the Yimkhiungs; and the Angami
Lohe shawls with thick embroidered animal motifs. Naga jewellery is an equally important part of identity, with the entire community wearing similar bead jewellery, specifically the necklace. The Indian Chamber of Commerce has filed an application seeking registration of traditional Naga shawls made in Nagaland with the Geographical Registry of India for
Geographical Indication.
Cuisine , a fermented soybean product
Naga cuisine is characterised by smoked and fermented foods.
Folk song and dance Folk songs and dances are essential ingredients of the traditional Naga culture. The oral tradition is kept alive through the media of folk tales and songs. Naga folk songs are both romantic and historical, with songs narrating entire stories of famous ancestors and incidents. Seasonal songs describe activities done in a particular agricultural cycle. The early Western missionaries opposed the use of folk songs by Naga Christians as they were perceived to be associated with spirit worship, war, and immorality. As a result, translated versions of Western hymns were introduced, leading to the slow disappearance of indigenous music from the Naga hills. Folk dances of the Nagas are mostly performed in groups in synchronised fashion, by both men and women, depending on the type of dance. Dances are usually performed at festivals and religious occasions. War dances are performed mostly by men and are athletic and martial in style. All dances are accompanied by songs and war cries by the dancers. Indigenous musical instruments made and used by the people are
tati, bamboo mouth organs, bamboo flutes, trumpets, drums made of cattle skin and log drums.
Religion Traditionally, the Nagas practised animism, venerating natural elements such as the sun, moon, trees, and stones. They believed in a Supreme Being and various lesser spirits associated with nature, conducting rituals and sacrifices to appease these entities. This deep connection to nature was central to their worldview and daily life. In the mid-19th century, Christian missionaries, particularly from the American Baptist denomination, introduced Christianity to the Naga hills. The Nagas embraced the new faith, leading to a significant religious transformation. Today, Christianity is the predominant religion among the Naga people, with over 87% identifying as Christians, making Nagaland one of the three Christian-majority states in India. While Christianity dominates, remnants of traditional beliefs persist, especially in cultural practices and festivals. Some Nagas integrate indigenous rituals with Christian practices, reflecting a syncretic approach to spirituality. Additionally, there are small minorities practising other religions (such as Buddhism), but they constitute a very limited portion of the population. In Myanmar, the term "Naga" holds significance in Buddhist mythology, referring to serpent-like beings often depicted in religious art and architecture.
Festivals The various Naga groups have their own distinct festivals. To promote inter-group interaction, the Government of Nagaland has organised the annual
Hornbill Festival since 2000. Another inter-ethnic festival is
Lui Ngai Ni. The group-specific festivals include: == Ethnic groups ==