A Naga couple in their traditional best. The male is wielding a däo (traditional hatchet). In olden times, däos were used for almost everything - from chopping onions to human necks. Though its use is slightly restricted now, every Naga household owns at least a couple - sharp ones too... just in case... :-)
The most common ornaments used by the Nagas are generally in the form of necklaces, armlets and bracelets. These ornaments are usually designed from ordinary to semi-precious stones, metals, boar's teeth and ivory.

Wood, bamboo and cane artifacts displayed for sale.

The bamboo plant plays an important part in the everyday life of the Nagas. Houses, household articles, utility items, fashion accessories etc. are made from bamboo. Tender bamboo shoots are served as a delicacy for lunch and dinner.

All the unique designs of the traditional attire are made by women using handlooms. The Naga handloom industry is a thriving business. Not many people outside Nagaland, are aware of these rare , ethnic and exotic designs. Only visitors to Nagaland get an opportunity to buy it or be gifted with one.
Red is the dominant colour in all the designs because the Nagas believe that the colour signifies bravery and ferocity.
The Naga artisans are skilled in wood carving, handicrafts and cane works. Their fingers weave magic as they carve out intricate designs, demonstrating a professional attitude to work. Elaborate wood carvings adorn traditional village-gates and morungs (traditional meeting place for menfolk).

It is not easy to determine which tribe has the best skills and craftsmanship. All of them excel in one thing or the other.

The Nagas are gifted with an amazing talent for singing and affinity to music. Believe it or not, most of them don't even know how to read music. They are on to any type of music - pop, jazz, blues, country, rock, reggae, gospel, trash, alternative, heavy metal - you name it ! But like anywhere else, it depends on the individual's choice of music. The point is that, they are open to any type of music.
Bravery, chivalry and hospitality are some of the good values inherent in a Naga. Here, women are very much respected for their contribution to home, family, work and to society as a whole.

The cultural heritage of the Nagas are steeped in folklore passed down through the generations by word of mouth. The young Nagas huddle around open wood-fires in the chill and darkness of the night and listen to elders recalling legendary stories of folk heroes and tales of long ago. Haunting tunes and lyrics speak of ancestors, a history of the times gone by, old battles, brave heroes and of course, love stories. The Nagas are a romantic lot.

A majority of the Nagas are non-vegetarians. It is in the blood of hill people. In fact, it would be difficult to find a vegetarian Naga ! Even if you do find one, it may be that he/she is a vegetarian by compulsion (as in "Doctor's orders") and not by choice. The living conditions of the Nagas require meat to be a part of their regular diet.
Most of the dishes that are prepared, both vegetables and meat, are usually boiled, not fried. Pork is a favourite among the Nagas. The style of cooking differs from place to place, especially the type of seasonings used. You will get to taste a lot of herbs and leaves of exotic plants. You will also notice that a lot of edible stuff are preserved.
And yes, you will also find creepy crawlies, hoppitty-hops and snakes for sale at the local market if you want to taste it ! Sometimes, you may find the meat of deer, field mice, dog, wild boar and other animals too. But remember, not all the Nagas eat these stuff.

Nagamese is the common language used by all the Naga tribes. It is a combination of Assamese with a sprinkling of Bengali and Hindi language. There are no scripts for Nagamese yet. Interestingly, the Holy Bible has been translated and written in all the tribal languages, i.e., each tribe has its own version of the Bible.
Contrary to what one might expect, the local scripts are written in plain English alphabet, which again, was introduced by the missionaries. I guess it would have been darned difficult and stupid to teach the Bible in hieroglyphs.