Konyak Naga's wooden pestle from Nagaland is a traditional kitchen device and has been completely carved from a single piece of wood and is made polished on the outer surface for a very smooth, durable finish. The pestle is primarily used to crush chilies-the primary ingredient in the Naga kitchen-as well as merging both the practical craftsmanship with functionality in culinary culture. One end of the pestle comes with a striking rectangular slit which may provide an extra edge during the crushing process for grinding and releasing the fresh or dried chilies intense flavors and oils. Its opposite end is rounded and grasped for a still easier grip when smooth handling would be required during repetitive use. The entire surface is finely polished to not only provide functionality but also aesthetics and care in the making of the tool.
Among the Konyaks is the warrior tradition, tattooing and woodcraft practice, and remain the very unique household tools, like these pestles, all handcrafted by local artisans for more specialized use. These are vital tools for the preparation of food, especially in tribal cuisine, where most people still prefer manual grinding, crushing, or pounding for better flavor. It is indeed a single block of wood that tells the ingenuity and respect of the tribe concerning natural materials, which runs as a common thread through much of the indigenous Naga tools. Today, these kinds of things are considered the culture and heritage of Naga life that are kept as part of their intangible heritage.