Handwoven Ao Naga Tribe Warrior Blanket,Ethnic Sofa Throw,Native Indian Shawl,Tribal Wall Tapestry,Tribal Home Decor,Ethnic Tribes Clothing

AO NAGA TRIBE WARRIOR BLANKET/WRAP :
This shawl is traditionally worn by men of the Ao Naga tribe. This Naga shawl is an authentic handmade and handwoven Shawl exclusively manufactured in North East India from the finest blend wools obtained from the best sources locally available. Purely handwoven using a loin loom by women in the tribal villages of Nagaland, northeast India, It is a traditionally woven shawl bearing distinctive patterns made by various Naga tribes of Nagaland, a north-eastern state in India.

Naga Tribe Shawls are the most distinctive and famous in India and all over the world. Naga Shawls are not mere wraps against cold, they are highly symbolic and are the traditional dress of Nagaland. They are a part of every celebration. They have distinctive patterns that are primarily red and black in color. They are worn by various Naga tribes. There are around 16 tribes in Nagaland and each has its own distinctive design and color combination.Purely handwoven using Backstrap loom by women in the tribal villages of Nagaland, northeast India

DESIGN, CRAFTSMEN, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE :

DESIGN:
This traditional Ao Naga Man's shawl is purely handwoven in red and black. This Shawl features a Red, Black, and White stripe with a Woven design. The shawl is beautified with figures woven in the center. The white patch in the middle is hand embroidered with beautiful designs of animals and birds like Mithun, cock, peacock lion, tiger, and elephants aligned with tribal geometric designs.

MOTIFS AND DESIGNS IN THE SHAWL:
Signifying courage and strength, the Naga shawls enchanting motifs are specific to a clan or tribe. Simple designs of straight lines, squares, and bands with motifs on top of them are done mostly in red, white, and black and create a powerful garment. The motif segment includes stripes, swords, animals, and conventional ritual objects.

Here are some of the common motifs you can find:

MITHUNS are the state animals of Nagaland and were used to be sacrificed in a cultural ritual made by people of high social status. They were privileged to wear a shawl with a mithun motif by this sacrifice.
RUNGU Is a sword used by Naga warriors and hunters who fought to protect their land and dignity or to hunt wild animals for food.
ZESHE is a knife or a machete holder that both warriors and farmers wore for their daily activities.
MOBA is a chevron-like pattern that signifies the ordinary traditional stool used in every Naga household.
CHAPILI is an old currency used by the Ao and Chang Naga tribes. It looks like a long, thin piece of iron with a long bulge like a knife.
SPEAR AND DAO: A sword and a knife; these symbols are associated with the traditional weapons used by warriors and for daily life.
TIGER and LION, these mighty animals are symbols of strength that stand for the warrior who wore the shawl and his bravery. The tiger and lion are often painted or woven in pairs, facing each other.
HORNBILL FEATHERS: All Naga tribes respect this symbol and use it as a powerful head decoration, creating a strong image and mysterious charm.

THE WEAVING OF THE NAGA TRIBE'S SHAWL
Naga shawls are made with narrow loin looms. The weaving is made on a simple loom called a loin loom or backstrap loom (since the weaver uses her back to support the loom). This loin loom is composed of six bamboo sticks. It is one of the oldest looms and is still used by tribes in Nagaland today.
It is woven with a High-quality Blend wool weft and weaving is done with hands. Backstrap loom weaving is painstakingly done by hand and unlike other looms where it's only the hands and legs of the weaver which is involved in the process, here it is the entire body.

The designs were woven into the cloth in different colors with warp or weft threads using a stick of bamboo, or even porcupine quills. Because of the nature of the loom, the designs were always linear and geometric. Sometimes the shawl was woven into three different pieces and joined together. Weaving is a laborious process, and each piece could take about hours/days for an expert weaver.

SYMBOLISM AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE NAGA SHAWL:
Naga Shawls play an essential role in performing traditional rituals and ceremonies. They are believed to bring good luck, provide spiritual support, and make the tribe’s fortune thrive. The shawls are a very delicate affair of culture, and they are woven with extreme care and have steadfast rules of weaving. It is said that a flawed shawl (a shawl that is not made following the rules) can bring bad luck to its wearer.

They are highly symbolic and are the traditional dress of Nagaland. They are a part of every celebration. They have a distinctive pattern that is primarily red and black in color. They are worn by various Naga tribes. There are around 16 tribes in Nagaland and each has its own distinctive design and color combination. This traditional craft enabled women in northeast India to gain meaningful livelihood opportunities even today and preserve their Naga Tribe culture.

HOW TO USE THEM :
Wrap it around you and feel the love
Makes an easy gift to a sister, brother, father, mother, girlfriend, boyfriend husband, wife
No need for sizing
A very easy gift to give and receive, everyone loves them
The perfect gift ideas for ceremonies, weddings, birthdays, camping, travels, home decor, sofa throw
People love the multi-functionality of this gift and how many uses it has.

SIZE :
Length: 92 inches
Width: 42 inches
Weight: 900gm

Country of Origin:
India

Material :
High-Quality Blend Wool