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Phom youths load homemade muzzle-loading guns at the Hornbill Festival. Gun making is a peculiar element of crafts integral to most of the Naga communities. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima, Dec. 5 (EMN): If you are around Kisama village for the Hornbill Festival and you hear the loud booms of gunfire reverberating across the surrounding hills, do not be taken aback. Just follow the origin of the noise and you will land at the morung of the Phom Nagas.
Gun-making has been an integral part and parcel of the Naga culture, especially those from the eastern region of the state who are rural professionals in making muzzle-loading single-shot guns. They have been using homemade muzzle-loading guns for centuries and the art of gun-making and manufacturing gun powder has been passed down for generation, from parents to children.
Now, at the Phom Morung, you will come across two lanky Phom lads manning this favourite corner for tourists. They will demonstrate their skills of loading their famed muzzle loaders with indigenously made gun powders; and for a sum of INR 100, you can actually get a chance to fire the gun in the air.
Kondang Phom, aged 21 years; and Bamong Phom, aged 24, are members of the Tamlu town cultural club from Longleng district. The youths said that the art of making guns and gun powder is a tradition and common to most of the men from their area. They said most households in their area have at least one muzzle loading gun for the purpose of protection and hunting bush meat, leaving aside their use during community displays and various cultural celebrations. They offered a sneak peek into the methods they use in making gun powder. They revealed that the powder is made from sulphur and potassium nitrate that are mined from specific soil and charcoal from the sumac tree, for instance.
Upon further query, Kondang replied that there were no dearth of visitors and customers alike who throng their corner to quench their curiosity.
“Most of the customers and visitors are tourists, especially from India (domestic tourists) who visit our stalls. Leaving aside the hundreds who visit our corner out of curiosity, we normally get between 30-40 customers who wants to fire the guns daily,” he said.
