Cultural campaign for through looms, beads and age-old wisdom
Source: MoD
REGIONAL, May 26, 2025: In a region where traditions are woven into the very fabric of identity, the Indian Army has quietly sparked a movement of empowerment through looms, beads, and age-old wisdom. In the hills and valleys of Manipur and Nagaland, where shawls signify status and beads embody ancestral spirits, women are reclaiming their heritage-not just as a symbol of pride, but as a source of livelihood and economic resilience.
This movement took root organically. During their deployment in remote villages, Army personnel were often felicitated with handwoven shawls, bead jewellery, and herbal cosmetic items by local women. These gestures unveiled a rich cultural heritage, but the know-how, remained known to very few people.
Recognizing the untapped potential, the Army initiated a cultural empowerment campaign under Operation Sadbhavana, in partnership with Aseem Foundation, a Pune-based NGO known for its work in remote and conflict-prone areas.
This collaboration a string of projects aimed at reviving traditional crafts while building financial independence and self-reliance for women in the region. From structured training to production infrastructure and market exposure, these efforts now span across weaving, yarn banking, natural cosmetics and bead jewellery.
In Tronglaobi village, the establishment of a yarn bank is preserving the legacy of textiles like Wangkhei Phee, Moirang Phee, and the phanek, a traditional wraparound skirt imbued with ceremonial meaning. Women artisans, trained and supported with looms, stipends, and raw materials, now operate a self-sustaining model where profits are reinvested into raw material procurement, ensuring continuity and scalability.
In Bishnupur district’s Phubala village, the launch of Loktak Mist, a brand of natural cosmetics, fuses ancestral wisdom with modern skincare. Drawing inspiration from Loktak Lake, women have developed a range of products made from rice water, leihao flowers, turmeric and sesame oil.
These ingredients, once used in traditional rituals, now feature in market-ready formulations. Training extended beyond formulation to branding and marketing, making Loktak Mist not just a product line, but a symbol of identity, innovation, and sustainability.
In Nagaland’s Zakhama village, the Indian Army supported the setup of a textile unit drawing on the traditions of tribes like the Ao, Angami, and Chakhesang. The iconic Tsungkotepsu shawl-once reserved for warriors-is now being woven by local women using cotton, silk, polyester and acrylic yarns on traditional looms. The unit not only trains women in structured weaving techniques but fosters emotional ties between the Army and tribal communities.
Further north, in P Moulding village of Kangpokpi district, a bead jewellery skill development centre has equipped women with techniques like wire looping, knotting, bead identification, and aesthetic design. These practices, rooted in tribal traditions of the Tangkhul, Konyak and Mao tribes, produce jewellery that is both spiritually significant and commercially viable. What was once heirloom art is now a sustainable livelihood.
Collectively, these projects transcend economic objectives. They are cultural reawakening that re-establish identity, rekindle pride, and foster community resilience. Women of the Northeast now share their narratives through loom rhythms, beadwork precision, and botanical fragrance.
Moreover, this initiative stands as a replicable model of peacebuilding in sensitive regions. The Indian Army’s role, traditionally associated with security, is now deeply embedded in social transformation, inclusivity, and cultural revival. Through its collaboration with civil society, the Army has demonstrated that empowerment can begin with a loom, a flower, a bead-and above all, a belief that tradition is not a relic, but a foundation for progress.
In times when development often overlooks the human and cultural essence of regions like the Northeast, the Indian Army's quiet cultural campaign ensures that heritage is not lost but reborn-as enterprise, as empowerment, and as enduring peace.
Authored by PRO & Spokesperson
Ministry of Defence
Manipur, Nagaland and Southern Arunachal Pradesh
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