Traditional Tattoos of Wolam Men and Women

Khiamniungan
The village of Wolam, situated in the Noklak, Nagaland, India

The village of Wolam, situated in the Noklak district of Nagaland, is home to the Khiamniungan community, a group rich in cultural traditions. Among the many customs of the Khiamniungan people, the practice of tattooing has historically played a significant role, serving as both a marker of identity and a reflection of social status. However, in recent decades, with the rise of modern education and the spread of Christianity throughout the region, this age-old practice has ceased. Today, only a handful of elders bear the traditional tattoos, remnants of a once vibrant cultural expression that has nearly disappeared.

Keen Thaam, a native of Wolam village, is undertaking a crucial effort to document and preserve the traditional tattoos of her community before they are lost forever. Her project seeks to capture the intricate designs and the stories behind them, not only as a visual record but also as a means to understand the deeper meanings and rituals associated with tattoos of Wolam village.