Hey, are we looking for a unique vibe for your home interiors? Get to the Hornbill Festival for the craft of Nagaland. The Nagaland festival is the place for the best of home décor items from Eastern India.
Everyone wants their home décor to be unique and trendsetting for sure. But, I face a problem now and then with decorating my place. You see, when it comes to decorating your sweet home, ideas tend to become stale or too commonplace. Moreover, applying too many themes spoils the entire look. It’s like a catch-22 situation – too less is too little, and too much leaves no space for day to day life and routines. Have you faced the decor dilemma yet? Hopefully, you haven’t and never will – because I have found a fabulous trick, right from the heart of Indian culture. Yes, it is Indian and yet very new. You know, in a way, India is like a pot of mysteries and mystic cultures, especially for the handicrafts for your home decor. So, here is my secret – introduce a new décor theme from the far East of India.
The Hornbill Festival
Hornbill Festival is an annual festival celebrated in Nagaland. Held every year from December 1 to 10, it is known as the festival of festivals, like the ultimate celebration of the craft and culture from the Eastern state. The Nagaland festival focuses on promoting the culture and tradition of the Naga Tribe. Most of the events during this festival happen below the spurs of Mount Japfu. Music, dance, handicrafts, food and local culture are few of the exciting offerings at the Nagaland Festival.
Crafts of Nagaland offers many selections for your home decor, the most popular ones are:
a. Bamboo Basketry
b. Metalware
c. Earthenware
d. Paintings
e. Home Linen and Rugs
f. Wood carving 
Source: JK Photos Nagaland
Craft of Nagaland
Nagaland is home to 16 tribes bringing in diversity in the unique designs and crafts. The tribes like Mongoloids, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Iranian contribute to this attractive art form. The important handicrafts of the Nagas are:
Paintings
Artists of Nagaland use natural colours for producing some fantastic paintings. Colours are made with a mix of the sap of a tree and strong beer. Ash of leaves is also an essential element to prepare the colour. The paintings are indeed a hallmark of the creative skills of the tribal craftsmen.
Bamboo basketry
The art of weaving baskets from bamboo and cane is genuinely remarkable. Every year during the Hornbill Festival, people come here to buy these traditional items. Bamboo and cane baskets are known for their usefulness and utility at home. Also, you can spot collectable in the form of musical instruments and weapons of bamboo. The bamboo craft decor gives a rich and earthy look. Bamboo accessories are also available like comb, belts and domestic products like saucers, mugs and forks.
Weaving and Embroidery
You will find weaving to be an integral part of the arts and crafts of Nagaland. The female population of the land has excelled at producing shawls and weaves that are famous worldwide.
The delicate embroidery done on clothes and decorative items made of cloth is excellent. You cannot miss the embroidery of the Angami Naga shawls – this hand made Nagaland product garners fame from across the globe.
Wood carving
The exceptional wood carvings represent the artistic calibre of the local artists of Nagaland. Wooden figures of humans, birds and animals are the speciality of Nagaland wood carvings. When it comes to Nagaland wood carvings, the tribes of Wanchos, Phom and Konyaks offer the best of craftwork.
Decorative items from Hornbill Festival
A variety of home items is the outcome of the artistic culture of Eastern India. Make your home interiors more attractive, visit the Hornbill Festival and choose from the many home decor options.
Table Décor
Tableware made of carved wood and cane mats bring a luxurious look to your dining table. The hand-crafted beauty of clay vases made by potters can adorn the side tables with elegance. You can also choose to for a rustic look in the house with handmade earthenware.
Bamboo mugs 
Horn Beer cups 
Nagalan Dao sword
Wall Décor
Bring home the famous cloth paintings of Nagaland to beautify the interior spaces of your home. A spear used as a weapon by the people of Nagaland is a perfect décor element. You can place this spear on the walls of your home. Alternatively, a dao knife made of wooden handle and blade fits well as the kitchen wall decor.
Home Linen and Rugs
Rugs are best for pretty floor coverings, window and door screens. Colourful mats are useful as wall hangings, tray mats, table mats and provide the much-needed hype of fashion. To get a traditional vibe, you can opt for beautiful shawls and clothes woven with a skilful mastery in handloom.
Cane Home Items
Place beautiful cane and bamboo baskets in the kitchen. Else, the table basket for fruits can add a natural charm to your dining table. Window screens made of cane help in regulating the temperature of the room and also add a gorgeous appeal to your room.
Importance of Nagaland Festival
You must visit the Hornbill Festival, for yourself, and the better of your home. You see, the people of Nagaland hosts this annual festival to showcase the culture and crafts – all in one place. And, Nagaland handicrafts are magnificent items created from the products of farms, fields, and forests.
The culture and traditions of the Nagas bring a delicate intricacy and detail to their handicraft products. The local art and architecture – woven shawls, Morungs – the youth dormitories, the village gates -speak volumes about the talent of the people of this state. Villagers with their expertise have made an eco-friendly livelihood for themselves. The traditional skills are preserved and practised through the generations of ancestors and also by the youth of today. The local lifestyle of Nagas is a reason enough for you to visit the Nagaland Festival, and the beautiful craft items are a bonus for your home decor. So, are you excited for Nagaland’s Hornbill festival – I am!
