Delegates from Ladakh and Kerala had a unique cultural experience by wearing indigenous attire during 'Mekhela Wednesday' at Nagaland University (NU), Medziphema Campus
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DIMAPUR — Delegates from Ladakh and Kerala had a unique cultural experience by wearing indigenous attire during 'Mekhela Wednesday' at Nagaland University (NU), Medziphema Campus, on February 4.
Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus is hosting 40 students and four teacher in-charges from Ladakh and Kerala from February 1 to the 14th, as part of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
An update from the university said that the visiting delegates actively participated in Mekhela Wednesday, a mid-week cultural practice of the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Medziphema Campus. During this event, women faculty and staff wear mekhelas--traditional wraparound attire--along with other indigenous garments.
Sharing her experience, Dr. Garima Gupta, one of the teacher in-charges of the Kerala team, remarked, “Wearing the mekhela was a beautiful and deeply enriching experience for us. It allowed our students to connect with the culture of Nagaland in a very personal way. Such initiatives make cultural exchange truly meaningful.”
At its core, Mekhela Wednesday is both a workplace initiative and a mission-driven movement aimed at preserving traditional weaving skills and sustaining the livelihoods of local weavers. The practice also fosters a sense of togetherness and cultural pride by celebrating tradition.
Highlighting this dimension, Prof. J. Longkumer, Associate Dean, Students Welfare at NU, was quoted as saying: “When we wear mekhelas, we are more likely to buy them, and by buying, we empower the weavers in countless ways. Most importantly, we contribute to conserving the traditional art of loin-loom weaving.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Rinchen Dolma, teacher in-charge of the Ladakh team, observed, “For our students, this was a wonderful opportunity to understand how culture, livelihood, and identity are interwoven in the North East. The warmth and sisterhood we witnessed here will stay with us long after we return.”
Through this simple yet meaningful practice, the women of Medziphema Campus continue to support the custodians of traditional craft, said the press release, adding that mekhela is not merely a garment but a living link between the past, present, and future, weaving together culture, community, and sisterhood.