On 6th-10th February 2023, KROS College hosted four students and a faculty from Sophia College, Mumbai for a students’ exchange program. This was initiated in a collaboration with Dr K&T Keditsu foundation, with an aim to explore the culture, ideas, and thoughts between the two Colleges. During the aforementioned days, the delegates from Mumbai interacted with the students, faculty, and Society of KROS College.
On 8th February, there was a skill development session where the delegates were taught how to make Naga ornaments like earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. This skill development program is an initiative by KROS College where students are taught different skills like basket making, crafts, weaving, knitting, jewellery making and others to promote skill-based earning and encourage economic independence and self-sufficiency.
On 10th February, the day was dedicated to a host of cultural activities. Indigenous games like pole-climbing, top spinning, and cock-fight were played. Vishili of 6th Semester taught the delegates how to weave by hand with raw cotton yarns and Neidekhono and Yenmei of 4th Semester taught them how to roll the yarns. Traditional folk dances were performed by the Krosians, while the Mumbai delegates also performed a dance which left the audience mesmerized. KROS students also exhibited a fashion show titled Naga Manu Fashion with an aim to incorporate Naga traditional attire into modern fashion. The idea behind the show was to assimilate traditional attire as it is with all its unique history attached along with ever-evolving modern fashion. It was to celebrate our rich heritage while at the same time keeping them relevant as the world around us changes. The participants also displayed Naga statement jewellery designed by Belle Nagaland, which was formed as a result of the Skill Development Program offered by KROS College to its students. Their designs are available for sale on Instagram @belle.nagaland.
Dr Sangeeta Dubey, the faculty from Sophia College, Mumbai observed that “culture is our identity and protecting and preserving them [in forms of fashion, games, songs and dances]is an admirable work.”
