Lotha Eloe Hoho (LEH) has strongly condemned the misuse of Lotha community’s traditional attire particularly the male shawl “Phanrhup” by one Agou Hengoulal Sitlhou.
In a press release, LEH president Thungbeni Ngullie reminded that each Lotha Naga traditional attire and shawl has a meaningful and significance for its usage honouring the ancestors helping keep the culture alive relevant to a particular occasion and festivals.
Further, the hoho said that traditional attires served as a visual language, communicating history, social status and family ties, expression of heritage. However, LEH asserted that the wrong representation of the Lotha Naga men shawl as “skirt/wraparound” by Agou and the team has brought “shame and insult” to the Lotha community.
The Eloe Hohoi has, therefore, demanded that the individual who misused the attire by wearing it inappropriately (the reel video which had gone viral on
Instagram) to immediately delete the reel in order not to falsely misrepresent the attire of Lothas on social media.
Further, the Eloe Hoho also cautioned that in the future it would not tolerate and take stern action, as per customary law, against any person misrepresenting or misuse and bringing disgrace without understanding and in-depth study and knowledge of the use of traditional attires.