Nütsah
A Nütsah is a traditional shawl created and woven by Khiamniungans of Noklak district in north-eastern India. The Nütsah, traditionally, could only be worn by the wealthy and warriors who had successfully taken the heads of enemy warriors. In modern times, the right to wear the Nütsah is associated with any male individual in the family as a demonstration of cultural acceptance, signifying ancestral fierceness and a distinctive symbol of the Khiamniungan Naga people.
History
In pre-colonial Khiamniungan society, shawls were used to classify the social status of male groups. This prestige symbol is given to higher social status who had earned it by his courageous war-performance putting down many enemies. The Nütsah was considered as the highest-ranking male shawl in ancient Khiamniungan society.Design and symbolism
The background of the Nütsah is black with intricate design of red square spread across with orange line woven at the edge of all four corners. The Khiamniungan Naga Shawl that has circles of cowrie shells is called Shiehtsap nie. But the exact same shawl without cowrie shells is called Nütsah. The shells was attached as a symbol of feasts of merit which the owner has hosted, depicting the shining stars in the sky during a nightly raid, or the moon and thus female fertility. The huge stylized human figure on the Nütsah indicates the owner's accomplishment in headhunting war. In those days such shawls could only be worn by distinguished accomplished warriors and wealthy men in the society.The red square that has 9x7 red blocks depicts fierce bloody war champion and the blue lines is a symbol of peaceful dominant disposition of all mankind.