Basket making has been one of the most intrinsic aspects of Naga culture throughout the ages. From being valued as a dowry basket to being used in the day to day activities like carrying water, firewood and the harvests from fields and gardens, the handicrafts of Nagaland speak in volumes about the way cane and bamboo have been molded in the hands of skilled craftsmen.
In this section we look at cane and basketry produced by a master craftsman from Khonoma village in Nagaland. This section will trace the entire process of weaving of a particular type of cane basket called ‘Khophi’; from processing the raw material to the final product and subsequently the various uses to which it is put.