The Lotha Eloe Hoho has strongly condemned the recent misuse of the Lotha community’s traditional attire, particularly the male shawl known as Phanrhup, by Agou Hengoulal Sitlhou. The organization expressed its outrage over the misrepresentation of the shawl as a skirt/wraparound in a viral Instagram video.
“Each Lotha Naga traditional attire has a meaningful and significant purpose for its usage, relevant to particular occasions and festivals,” the Lothat Eloe Hoho said in a statement. “Traditional attires serve as a visual language, communicating history, social status, and family ties, as well as expressing heritage.”
The misuse of the Phanrhup shawl, which was inaccurately portrayed in the viral video, has led to shame and insult for the Lotha community. The Hoho sternly warned Agou Hengoulal Sitlhou and his team to delete the video from Instagram, stating that such actions falsely misrepresent Lotha traditions.
“We sternly warn the person who has misused the attire by wearing it inappropriately and its misuse by the team through a reel on Instagram to immediately delete the reel in order not to falsely misrepresent the attire of Lothas in social media,” the statement read.
The Lotha Eloe Hoho further warned that any future misrepresentation or misuse of traditional attire, without proper understanding and respect for its significance, will not be tolerated. “Such actions will be liable to stern action as per the customary law of the land,” they concluded.