Tangkhul Naga Shawl Ukhrul Manipur Tribal Weaving

The Tangkhul Naga people of Ukhrul district in Manipur weave distinctive ceremonial shawls with geometric motifs representing hunting prowess, community status, and fertility. The Angangba shawl worn by headmen and warriors features red and black bands with diamond and fish-scale patterns woven in supplementary weft technique. Tangkhul women weave on backstrap looms using cotton and wild silk. Shawl patterns are specific to clans — a Tangkhul can identify a person origin village and status from their shawl pattern. Ukhrul District Cooperative markets Tangkhul shawls at Hornbill Festival and Delhi Craft Mela. Revival programmes document endangered patterns and teach young Tangkhul women traditional loom techniques.