It is a cone-shaped helmet headgear worn traditionally by the Naga tribe of Nagaland, painstakingly made of strips of cane or bamboo. It has a round base and the tightly woven conical body structure of the helmet so as to make it last longer. The inside is woven with bamboo to provide its support and finished externally with dark-red mat by finely woven canestips, making it rich and earthy in texture.
The uniqueness of this helmet is the decoration made with yellow-colored orchid skin skillfully applied on selective portions of the mat that showcase the aesthetic sensibilities of the Naga. The upper part of the helmet has colored animal hair, held by a curvilinear cane strip arched over the headgear, adding its ceremonial effect. These helmets themselves, however, do not serve any guarding purposes, but are symbolic of tribal identity and warrior ancestry. Mostly worn during festivals and traditional dances, or as a kind of status symbol, the cane helmet serves the function of practical ornaments used in the attire of the Naga.