Dimapur: Delegates from Ladakh and Kerala experienced a unique cultural moment on Wednesday as they participated in and revelled in ‘Mekhela Wednesday’ at Nagaland University’s Medziphema campus.
As part of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and the North Eastern Council, the Medziphema campus of Nagaland University is hosting 40 students and four teachers-in-charge from Ladakh and Kerala from February 1 to 14, a varsity release said on Thursday.
The visiting delegates witnessed and actively participated in ‘Mekhela Wednesday’, a mid-week cultural practice of the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Medziphema campus, where women faculty and staff donned mekhelas, the traditional wraparound attire, along with other indigenous garments.
The practice fosters a sense of togetherness and cultural pride, as participants gather, even if briefly, to celebrate tradition and capture shared moments through photographs.
Sharing her experience, Dr Garima Gupta, one of the teachers-in-charge of the Kerala team, said, “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.”
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.
Highlighting this dimension, Prof. J Longkumer, associate dean (students’ welfare), said, “When we wear mekhelas, we are more likely to buy them, and by buying them, 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 practice, the women of the Medziphema campus continue to support the custodians of traditional craft.