State
Capital: Kohima
The Kuki tribe's jewelry features snake-inspired patterns, rooted in a folktale of a demonic serpent who fell for a maiden's beauty. Enchanted by each other, the snake's movements and scales inspired the maiden to weave his patterns into fabric and jewelry, a tradition that continues to this day.
The origin of Naga beads is not known, though it has been written about extensively. Naga people consider beads to be talismans, equivalent in value to gems.Among the Nagas, necklaces that are thick with many strands are ordinarily worn by womenfolk. They believed that the thicker the neckpiece, the higher the presumed wealth of the wearer and her family.
The Konyak collar is skillfully made using ancient deomani glass beads that are short, tubular or cylindrical, and adorned with mini brass heads. The collar serves as a symbolic descriptor of the wearer’s tribal orientation and social status.