Cultural Jewellery and Accessories of the Lamkang Tribe
By Sungnem Shimla Lamkang and Th. Purnima Devi
Jewellery and accessories constitute an important part of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) that is used to express cultural imagination and experiences. The Lamkang tribe has a unique identification marker of heritage and their culture. The knowledge of weaving, jewellery, and accessories has been passed down from generation to generation and plays a significant role in people’s social and cultural lives. This paper uses a survey method study, with interviews as the mode of data collection with community members, artisans, and elders to gather first-hand accounts of the cultural meaning and functions of Jewellery and accessories. Materials are analyzed by collecting through photography and written records. The study found 13 pieces of traditional jewellery and accessories in males and females, nine pieces of jewellery from females, and four from males with photography collected during fieldwork. In the past, each personal adornment had significance and symbolic aspects attached to it. Later on, jewellery was limited to folk dance and festive occasions in the contemporary era. The paper also illustrates the significance of human civilization development in improving accessories created with technology, such as forging and filing techniques; therefore, metal material could be used.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17475151
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