Tribal tales in ink: Tattoo village of Northeast India
The Konyaks of Nagaland are the last surviving tribes of Northeast India, with their unique facial and body tattoos, each signifying the tribe, clan and status in society of every member
The Konyaks used to be headhunters and their tattooing culture is closely linked to that way of life, which is now banned
They were feared as aggressive warriors and would infamously resolve conflicts by beheading their enemies and taking their skulls back home in a basket designed specifically for the purpose.
The tattoos marked various stages of manhood, expressed their animistic relationship with nature and more importantly headhunting
After every war, the warrior, upon returning with the skull trophies, would be decorated with aubergine-coloured diamond and lozenge markings hand-tapped across his body.
These tattoos were drawn using the ink of the red cedar tree, while palm spikes were used as tattooing combs.
The face tattoos were reserved for these fearsome warriors, specifically those coming back home from raids or conquests with human heads
It was considered unmanly to squeal when the tattoo needle pierced the body of the men