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| Overview |
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Sharing borderlines with Myanamar in
the east, Assam in the west and north, Arunachal Pradesh in
the northeast and Manipur in the south, Nagaland's blue-hued
mountains and emerald expanses comprise an intriguing world
of ancient rituals and a proud people. This verdant homeland
of the Nagas became the state of Nagaland, the 16th state
of the Indian Union, in 1963.
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Tiger, leopard, elephant, sambar, wild buffalo
and bear inhabit its deep jungles, while its vast expanses
of paddy fields, fed by an elaborate indigenous irrigation
system, are a veritable feast for the eyes. Known for its
salubrious climate, Nagaland has considerable rainfall during
the monsoons that run from June to September.
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Spread over an area of 6.366 sq
km, its population is mainly rural. Kohima, its capital, Dimapur
and Mokokchung are its most important towns. Nagas has evolved
into a generic term for many tribal communities in the Northeast.
Of the 32 such tribes, 16 major and numerous sub-tribes spread
over Nagaland's seven districts; primary amongst them are
the Angamis, the Sema, Konyak, Aos and the Rengmas, each with
their own distinct culture and lifestyle.
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Though they were animist by tradition, almost 98% of the population
embraced Christianity under the influence of English missionaries.
The Nagas were also exposed to western culture when the English
recruited them as a labour corps to serve in France during
the Second World War. They were highly commended for their
loyalty and bravery. |
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| Naga society is a well-knit and
cohesive unit living by ancient tenets that play an important
role in contemporary life. One of its most interesting features
is the tradition of the morung, a dormitory exclusively for
men, which is the focal point of the village.
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