<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><rss version="2.0">
<channel>
	<title>The Holiday Scout Blog | Tribe &amp; Culture</title>
	<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/</link>
	<description>The Holiday Scout</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:26:32 +0530</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<generator>Warrenasia Blog Feed v1.0</generator>
			<item>
		<title>Good and Plenty &ndash; The Meitei Chakluk</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/good-and-plenty-the-meitei-chakluk/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/good-and-plenty-the-meitei-chakluk/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Among the Northeastern states of India, it is Manipur that has the broadest culinary spectrum and the widest variety of dishes. Here spices and oil are used in food preparation with vegetables and fish featuring prominently on restaurant menus and on the table at home.Manipur has a population of approximately 2.7 million. Of this total, about 40% are Hindus with the Meitei community representing the majority. On a recent visit to Imphal, we were invited to witness the consecration of the new Ramakrishna Temple in Singjamei, a ceremony that culminated in a mouthwatering meal for everyone present &ndash; a Meitei Chakluk with 21 vegetarian items!Served on a large thali plate in bowls made from banana leaves, here are the dishes we got to savor:(1) Peanuts (2) Nongmangkha mapan, bitter leaves (3) Cabbage (4) Moong dal (5) Chak hao, wild red rice (6) Ooti, yellow peas (7) Iromba, spicy fermented bamboo shoots (8) Watermelon (9) Urad dal (10) Rajma aloo, kidney beans with potato (11) Chana dal (12) Singju, salad with lotus stem (13) Maroi thongba, garlicky chives (14) Eggplant (15) Eggplant with peanuts (16) Imli, tamarind chutney (17) Pakora, veg fritter (18) Paneer cheese (19) Rice Kheer dessert (20) Pumpkin (21) Steamed white rice.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/good-and-plenty-the-meitei-chakluk/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/good-and-plenty-the-meitei-chakluk/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eye on Manipur &ndash; Meitei Street Fashion</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/eye-on-manipur-meitei-street-fashion/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/eye-on-manipur-meitei-street-fashion/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Contemporary yet traditional, the Meitei women we met while walking around Imphal gave us a look at their artistic sense of style.Like our friend Premabati chic as ever in her glowing, yellow phanek. Made of hand-loomed cotton or silk, the full-length wrap-around skirt is commonly worn by Meitei women, be it for daily office work or on auspicious occasions. The bottom of the phanek is adorned with different designs; Premabati&rsquo;s resembles a temple. The rani phi (shawl) and the somewhat larger eena phi (half sari) are available in a rainbow of different colors and patterns. Paired with her phanek and blouse, Premabati&rsquo;s white rani phi embroidered with purple peonies adds a feminine touch to her editorial look.Manipur was itself once known as the &ldquo;land of gold&rdquo; and the richness of Meitei culture is reflected in women&rsquo;s adornments today. Necklaces are of simple filigree designs while bracelets are marked by more intricate and elaborate workmanship. These lovely accessories draw attention in a classy way and give the modern Meitei woman her authentic and complete look.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/eye-on-manipur-meitei-street-fashion/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/eye-on-manipur-meitei-street-fashion/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Meeting the Mishmi</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/meeting-the-mishmi/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/meeting-the-mishmi/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The tea gardens outside of Dibrugarh were still cloaked in early morning mist as we drove east toward Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh. In about five hours we would reach our destination and the starting point of our photography tour, the town of Wakro, home to the Mishmi people.The Mishmis are an ethnic group comprised of three tribes, the Idu, the Digaru and the Miju. Racially, all three are from the same stock and are believed to have migrated to India from Tibet and from Burma. With their villages perched in hills beyond the reach of so-called modernizers, the Mishmis maintain time-honored ways and are largely animist, worshiping a number of deities, most of which are connected to elements of nature.Watered by a multitude of springs and streams, the hills and valleys surrounding Wakro are full of orange orchards and fields plump with corn and pumpkins. Entering the village, traditional Mishmi longhouses come into sight. Made of bamboo and raised on posts that are about one meter above ground, domestic animals find shelter directly underneath. Inside, the houses are rustic and cozy, the kitchen fireplace being where family members come together to share meals and stories of the day. Above the hearth, a rectangular wooden frame hangs suspended for the purpose of smoking meat, and bottles filled with pickled chilies and fruits line the windowsills. Life here is simple but rich. We had come to make portraits of the Mishmis who are known for their expertly woven textiles and distinctive adornments. Going through my collection, I am captivated by the beauty and humanity of these gracious people with whom I was so lucky to spend some time.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/meeting-the-mishmi/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/meeting-the-mishmi/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cultural Preservation &ndash; We are in the Picture</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/cultural-preservation-we-are-in-the-picture/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/cultural-preservation-we-are-in-the-picture/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two generations ago, Nagaland, which is situated in the rugged and remote borderland between India and Burma, was an illiterate, animist and polygamous tribal society. But with the arrival of Baptist missionaries, the region underwent a dramatic and irreversible transformation. With anything non-Christian seen as &ldquo;savage&rdquo;, many rituals and arts were forcibly stopped, craft skills lost and the very essence of Naga culture put at risk of being extinguished. Today, all is not yet lost. Just this past July, a team from the Nagaland Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change identified three landscapes with so-called &ldquo;outstanding universal value&rdquo; to be proposed to UNESCO for inclusion in the organization&rsquo;s heritage sites. This is an urgently needed conservation step. Beautiful valleys are one thing. But cultural heritage is something we cannot physically touch, yet which has a major bearing on the way people live. Particularly in a tribal society with no written history, the knowledge carried by the tribe&rsquo;s members that is inherited from previous generations also needs to be protected and preserved. So I turn to photography in my attempt to document this intangible cultural knowledge as it manifests itself in the customs of North East India&rsquo;s tribal communities.&nbsp; &nbsp;My most recent tour to Nagaland took me on the road from Mon to Tuensang and Mokokchung. The going was arduous but just as spectacular, and my thoughts lit up in anticipation. The plan was to photograph villagers dressed in their ceremonial attire and to hear their folk tales about the significance of the dress. And as I did so, I was struck by the ribbon of tradition that runs through them all, tradition that can still be traced back to the time before modernizers and missionaries came. This connecting thread and the subtle variations in clothing and ornaments from tribe to tribe had me gripped with fascination. In short, I have to know more!<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/cultural-preservation-we-are-in-the-picture/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/cultural-preservation-we-are-in-the-picture/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Five Irresistible Reasons to Visit Ladakh</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/five-irresistible-reasons-to-visit-ladakh/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/five-irresistible-reasons-to-visit-ladakh/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A&nbsp; Photographer&rsquo;s DreamMost of Ladakh lies at an altitude above 3000 meters. Ancient mountains made of granite and deep sea sediment display a striped and surrealistic coloring which, in the absence of forest, is amplified against a dark blue cobalt sky. Deep-hued lakes sparkle like jewels in the arid desert and sinuous rivers flow through craggy gorges, punctuated occasionally by the small green oasis of a village. All this forms a stunning backdrop against which the enchanting faces, dwellings and monasteries of the region are presented, images beckoning to be captured.A Gateway to Outdoor AdventureFed by snow melt from the lofty Tibetan plateau, the mighty Zanskar River unites with the Indus in a dramatic gorge near Nimmu Village in Ladakh. Offering class 3 rapids and views of a canyon lined with rippling layers of rock that formed during the uplift of the Himalayas, a rafting expedition here is a must-try activity. For those geared up to the fitness level required for trekking, Ladakh has many routes that provide spectacular views on their way past tiny hamlets and remote Gompas. A Showcase for Tibetan Buddhist Art &amp; ArchitectureThe proximity and influence of Tibet gave firm root to Buddhism in the North and East of Ladakh. Here prayer flags dot the landscape and conical whitewashed Chorten stand like sentinels guarding each village and monastery. Often nestled into cliff sides, the Gompa are places of retreat. A winding upward path opens onto a courtyard from which steps lead away to various assembly halls and vestibules. The outside walls are often painted with frescoes while inside, Thangka scrolls depicting central Buddhist figures are filled with the colors of crushed stones and a generous splash of gold.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;A Taste of the Silk RoadA walk around the narrow lanes of Leh Bazaar feels like stepping into a time capsule, going back to the days before souvenir seeking tourists arrived on the scene. There are many shops dealing in Thangkas, precious stones and artifacts like Gur-Gur, the container in which buttered tea is churned, and Perak headdresses studded with turquoise. Village markets are equally charming and offer genuine handicrafts of good workmanship at reasonable rates.A Land of Warmhearted People and CustomsIn Ladakh, sunny smiles and the magical greeting &ldquo;Jhuley&rdquo; welcome visitors. In any home, whether affluent or humble, guests are invited for a cup of tea and a place on the best rug in the house. Ladakhi food is wholesome, featuring noodles, vegetables and dumplings, and Ladakhi dress made of homespun wool is warm and comfortable. On auspicious occasions, ladies don embroidered aprons and shoes along with glittering jewelry and a top hat. Thanksgiving festivals after harvest are celebrated with fanfare and music, offering a wonderful glimpse of local villagers in their traditional finery.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/five-irresistible-reasons-to-visit-ladakh/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/five-irresistible-reasons-to-visit-ladakh/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Rare Glimpse &ndash; India&rsquo;s Last Remaining Headhunters</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/a-rare-glimpse-indias-last-remaining-headhunters/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2016 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/a-rare-glimpse-indias-last-remaining-headhunters/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We just returned from Lungwa, a remote village in the Mon district of Nagaland which straddles the border between India and Burma. This is where the Konyak tribe and India&rsquo;s last generation of headhunters, calls home. Westerners assume that headhunting was a primitive act of brutality. But in times before the 1960&rsquo;s when Christian missionaries had the practice abolished, headhunting was deemed by the Konyak as something admirable, as a sign of valor and dominance. In those bygone days, heads played the same role that money does today, and taking enemy heads earned a Konyak warrior a position of respect within society. The more heads he took, the higher his standing and wealth grew and, hence, the more eligible he became to choose a wife.&nbsp;A warrior&rsquo;s tattoos symbolized his accomplishments. If he brought home a body part of the enemy his reward was a tattoo on his body. If he severed a head, he earned the privilege of getting one on his face. And after a warrior had taken five heads, he could have his neck tattooed with the prestigious &ldquo;spider web&rdquo; design. Today, with headhunting a thing of the past, elder tribesmen are the only ones left wearing these amazing tattoos.In earlier times, the skulls of severed enemy heads adorned the walls of the Konyak communal houses. Today, instead, bones of buffaloes, mithun, boars and hornbills are displayed to show the status of a man in society. With the invasion of Christianity, many of the Konyak Naga&rsquo;s traditions like training young boys as warriors, wearing colorful beaded jewelry and building thatched-roof houses have almost disappeared. Now is the time to see them &ndash; before they are forever lost to history.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/a-rare-glimpse-indias-last-remaining-headhunters/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/a-rare-glimpse-indias-last-remaining-headhunters/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hornbill Festival in Nagaland &ndash; Have You Been Yet?</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/hornbill-festival-in-nagaland-have-you-been-yet/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/hornbill-festival-in-nagaland-have-you-been-yet/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year in early December, the tribes of Nagaland gather at Kisama village near Kohima to celebrate the colorful Hornbill Festival. Named after the majestic bird which is revered in tribal folklore and bound closely with social traditions across the state, the 10-day cultural extravaganza showcases dance, music, food, sports and handicrafts. The Hornbill Festival serves to preserve and promote the rich heritage of the Naga tribes. For visitors like Manuela and Stefano from Milano &ndash; Italy, the colorful performances and ceremonies offer a closer look at the local people and their way of life. Some popular highlights include ethnic food stalls, herbal medicine stalls, traditional archery, Naga wrestling and other indigenous games.Another highlight of Manuela and Stefano&rsquo;s tour included a stop in Ziro. Located in Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh, this highly fertile valley is home to the Apatani, an ethnically distinct tribe whose relationship with nature lies at the heart of its cultural identity. And finally, to round off their trip, our guests enjoyed an early morning elephant ride in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. Travel with Holiday Scout &ndash; with us, every minute is a journey of a lifetime.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/hornbill-festival-in-nagaland-have-you-been-yet/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/hornbill-festival-in-nagaland-have-you-been-yet/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Feel the Moment&hellip; Because Life has No Rewinds!</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/feel-the-moment-because-life-has-no-rewinds/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/feel-the-moment-because-life-has-no-rewinds/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Remember the exhilarating lift you feel after doing something totally new and different? Travel in North East India and expect this emotion to well up inside you every day.Rachel Jones, known for her award-winning blog Hippie in Heels which features glamorous travel in India, and Anna Phipps, author of Global Gallivanting, a travel, lifestyle and adventure blog showcasing India as a destination for women both traveled with us recently on the Monastery &amp; Tribal Discovery Tour. In their opinion, part of what makes the North East region especially intriguing and captivating is that it is so unlike any other place in India, as Anna explained:<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/feel-the-moment-because-life-has-no-rewinds/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/feel-the-moment-because-life-has-no-rewinds/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>On the Culinary Trail in Dirang</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/on-the-culinary-trail-in-dirang/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/on-the-culinary-trail-in-dirang/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Cooking in Arunachal Pradesh is decidedly different than on "mainland" India. Recipes here rarely call for dried spices. Rather, fresh organic herbs, leaves and tubers are used to add color and aroma to the cornucopia of curries, soups, dals, pickles and chutneys found across the state.One dish native to the Mon Region in western Arunachal Pradesh has made it onto the menus of restaurants around the world, namely the momo &ndash; a crescent-shaped dumpling prepared with a variety of fillings, daintily pleated, steamed and served with dipping sauce. You can't eat just one! <br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/on-the-culinary-trail-in-dirang/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/on-the-culinary-trail-in-dirang/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Aoling &amp; Mopin Festivals - Beyond Your Imagination</title>
		<link>https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/aoling-mopin-festivals-beyond-your-imagination/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +0530</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/aoling-mopin-festivals-beyond-your-imagination/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every year in April, the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland prepare their fields for sowing. Upon completion of the hard work, vibrant harvest festivals ensue. For seven days feasts are enjoyed, rice beer is drunk, colourful dances are performed and deities are worshiped in anticipation of a bountiful crop. This majestic display of ethnic pageantry truly takes one to the boundaries of the imagination.<br>Original post at: <a href="https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/aoling-mopin-festivals-beyond-your-imagination/">https://theholidayscout.com/blog/tribe-and-culture/aoling-mopin-festivals-beyond-your-imagination/</a>]]></description>
	</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
		