Kabui Naga tribe of Manipur Cultural heritage suffuses the community of Manipur's costumes and ornaments. An ear ornament involves an unusual ornament fashioned from naturally available elements such as grass, bark, wool, and feathers. The ceremonial ear ornament is in stylized semi-circular fan-like shapes with blue feathers, yellow-dyed bark, and red-wool accents. The ear ornament is held firmly by wearing two wooden sticks
The elaborate ear decoration is a standard element of the dance costume worn by the Kabui Naga tribe while performing their traditional dance. The colorful, aesthetic, and intricate design of the ornament serves both ornamental and emblematic purposes in this expression of culture. Coincidentally, the fan shape of this ear decoration finds a resemblance to the Monpa mask from Arunachal Pradesh worn during the Thutotdam dance. Such commonality points to great interlinking amongst the indigenous groups of Northeast India, where artistic expressions constantly draw their inspiration from nature, spirituality, and rituals.
This ear ornament, preserved and displayed at the National Museum, New Delhi, speaks of the artistic creativity and rich traditions of the Kabui Naga tribe of Manipur.