In Northeast India, the Naga tribes have inherited traditions of wearing handmade ornaments as symbols of their tribal identity, social roles, and beauty. Among these, the tassel ornamentation for hair is one of the exclusive wear for women within the warrior tribes or other social activities.
Cane and handmade textile form the basis for this hair ornament, which has a conical end and another braided into a knot. With durability in mind and aesthetics taken into consideration, the cane fibers are knotted into interlocking knots and then braided. The very dense hair ornament dangling from the hair-knot serves both an ornamental purpose as well as being useful.
The tassels, unlike other glamorous tribal ornaments, have a humble economic value but are highly significant within the tribe; pending to show clan affiliation, marital status, and/or a woman's role within the community. They are often worn by the women for self-expression but have survived as an essential item in the traditional outfit of the Naga tribe, displaying how custom has been carried down through the many generations.