KU President K Yamao Konyak (2nd from right) along with other officials during the Cultural Study Tour-cum-Dedication Programme of Konyak Pulang Ow hei leng Laitep at the Konyak Union Office in Mon on January 16.
Mon, January 17 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU), in collaboration with all Konyak frontal organisations, organised a Cultural Study Tour-cum-Dedication Programme of Konyak Pulang Ow hei leng Laitep (the Konyak Naga Traditional Attire Book) at the Konyak Union Office in Mon on January 16.
The programme marked a significant milestone in the preservation, documentation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of the Konyak Naga community.
The book was earlier formally launched by Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio during the Statehood Celebration Day held on December 1, 2025, at the Nagaland Secretariat Plaza in Kohima. The launch by the Chief Minister underscored the importance accorded by the State Government to safeguarding indigenous traditions and recognising the cultural identity of Naga tribes through systematic documentation.
During the dedication programme at Mon, Rev Metjen Konyak officially dedicated the book, invoking blessings and underscoring the spiritual and cultural responsibility of preserving ancestral knowledge for future generations. The dedication ceremony added solemnity to the occasion and reaffirmed the collective commitment of the Konyak people to protect and uphold their traditional heritage.
Addressing the gathering, Konyak Union president K Yamao Konyak elaborated on the significance of Konyak Pulang Ow hei leng Laitep as a comprehensive cultural documentation of Konyak traditional attire. He said the book was not merely a publication but a foundational cultural record that would facilitate the process of securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Government of Nagaland.
He further explained that the proposed GI registration would recognise co-ownership, with the Konyak Union and the Government of Nagaland sharing primary and secondary ownership, ensuring both community ownership and state-level legal protection. Acknowledging the support of the State Government, he particularly highlighted the role of the Department of Nagaland Handloom and Handicraft Development Limited (NHHDC) and the Nagaland Science & Technology Council (NASTEC) for providing guidance, technical inputs, financial support and institutional assistance in the documentation process.
Konyak informed that the Konyak Union would shortly launch a cultural study tour covering major villages across Konyak Naga-inhabited areas and appealed to the community to safeguard, uphold and preserve its rich and distinctive cultural heritage.
Special appreciation was extended to the Konyak Documentation Committee led by its chairman Wanghen Chohwanglim, the committee members and the research team comprising Dr Eche Wangnyu and Dr Amo Konyak for their scholarly research and fieldwork that made the publication possible. Tribute was also paid to informants, elders, artisans and community members who contributed their knowledge, time and experiences to ensure the authenticity and completeness of the documentation.
The programme concluded with a collective resolve that Konyak Pulang Ow hei leng Laitep would serve as a lasting cultural legacy, strengthen Konyak identity, protect traditional attire from misuse and ensure that the heritage of the Konyak Naga community is preserved with dignity and accuracy for future generations.
