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Lotha Naga

Total population
173,111[1] (2011 census)
Languages
Lotha language (Sino–Tibetan)
Religion
Christianity (chieflyBaptist)
Related ethnic groups
otherNaga Ethnic Groups

Lotha Nagas, also known as Kyongs, are a majorNagaethnic group native toWokha District in theNortheast Indian state ofNagaland.

Scholars have presented several theories about the migration of the Lothas and the other Naga people, based on vocal explanations passed on from one generation to another.

According to this theory mentioned byHokishe Sema, the Lothas started moving out from the Eastern part ofChina, passing throughMalaysia,Indonesia andBurma en route. After many long years of movement, they reached a place calledKhezakhenoma located betweenManipur andChakhesang (the present-dayPhek), where they settled for a short period of time. FromKhezakhenoma they moved towards the present day settlement of the Lothas i.e.Wokha district where they finally settled.^[2]

This theory, mentioned byT. Phillips, says that the Lothas migrated fromManchuria, passing through the foothills of theHimalayas and reachedManipur viaBurma. FromManipur, they moved out and settled at the present day place.^[3]

There are multiple versions of this theory:^[4]

• The Lothas ancestors lived in a place calledLenka, situated east of the Naga territory (modern Nagaland). During the course of migration the Lothas split into two groups. The first group, after reaching theBrahmaputra Valley, settled there while the second group went towards the mountainous region of the present dayNagaland.
• The Lothas,Sangtams,Rengmas and theSumis have a common ancestor and had dwelled mutually as one in their past. But at some stage in their course of migration from Lenka, the Sangtams decided to go separate ways from a place calledMao.
• The Lothas, along with the other Nagaethnic groups, reached the present-dayKohima and settled at a place calledLezama. This is the place where the Semas parted with the other Naga ethnic groups and the Lothas with the Rengmas settled at a hill called Themoketsa (the Lothas called this place Honoyonton). Here the Rengmas parted ways from the Lothas. One group of Lothas went towardsDoyang, passing through villages like Shaki and Phiro. The other group moved towards the hilly region of the present Wokha and settled at a place called Longchum near the Niroyo village.

Local traditions mention that the Rengmas and the Lothas were once part of a single ethnic groups.^[5] There are also oral records of a mighty struggle between the combined Rengma villages, and the Lotha village of Phiro.^[6]

• Yikhüm,Englan,Lakhüti,Pangti,Tsüngiki,Wokha, Riphyim Old, Riphyim New, Mekokla, Akük New, Akük Old, Aitepyong Town, Chankayan, Soku, Baghty, Baghty Town, Upper Baghty, Bhandari Town, Yimpang, Alikhüm, Longchüm, Yimparasa, Bhandari village, Yimza, Mongphio, Lishyüo, Yanmhon Old, Rüchan village, Koro, Pangtong, Serika A, Yanmhon New, Longayim, Lio, Wokha Old, Seed Farm, Lisayan, Liphi, Mekirang, Suphayan, Serika B, Lio Wokha New, Merapani, Hayiyan, Lio Longidang, Changpang, Akahaqua, Tssori Old, Tssori New, Lichuyan, Mithehe, Changpang Hq, Longtsiri Village, Mungya, Nungying, Seluku, Koio, Chükitong Town, Longtsüng, Morakjo, Lotsü, Pyangsa, Moilan, Pyotchü, Sheru Echuk, Ralan Hq, Ralan Old, Ralan New, Woruku, Chandalashung Old, Chandalashung New, Chandalashung B, Yampha, Liphayan, Shoshan, S. Wochan, Yanlum, Tchutsaphen, Sanis, Sanis Town B (Jn), Sanis Town A, Sunglup, Yonchücho, Meshangpen, Tsopo, Chudi, Okotso, Süngro Town, Aree Old, Aree New, Longsa, Hümtso, Elümyo, Changsu Old, Changsu New, Niroyo Wokha, Longsachung, Okheyan Wokha, Yanthamo, Longla, Wokha, Yimkha, Wokha, N Longidang, Pongidong, Vankhosung (Mission Compound), Nyiro Compound, Phiro, Shaki, Sankitong, Hanku, N. Longchum, Yankeli, Yanthung, Wozhüro EAC HQ.h

Apart from Wokha District, there are also sizeable Lotha population inKohima,Chümoukedima,Dimapur, andMedziphema.

Wokha District is the traditional home of the Lotha Nagas. The Lothas are renowned for their colorful dances and folk songs. The male members wear shawls indicating their social status. The prestigious social shawl for women isOpvüram andLongpensü for men.

Like many Nagas, the Lothas practiced headhunting in the older days. After the arrival ofChristianity, they gave up this practice. Though the majority of the Lothas areBaptist, there exist a moderate amount of other forms of Christianity like theCatholics. Catholics are concentrated more in Wokha than in other parts of Nagaland.

Tokhü Emong is celebrated on 7 November. It is the harvest festival of the Lotha Nagas. It is celebrated in the 1st week of November every year and it stretches over to 9 days. Earlier, no particular date was fixed. However, in order to carve unity and uniformity among the ranges, Wokha elders decided to celebrate it on a fixed date. Following this Tokhü Emong is celebrated on 7 November, every year.

• Zuboni Hümtsoe (1990–2017), businessperson
• Mmhonlümo Kikon, politician
• Dolly Kikon, anthropologist
• Silas Kikon (1956–2016), singer
• James Kithan, sportsperson
• Abraham Lotha, anthropologist
• T. M. Lotha (1951/1952–2020) politician
• Yanthungo Patton, politician
• Khodao Yanthan (1923–2010), Naga nationalist leader

Wikimedia Commons has media related toLotha Naga.

• Lothas at Ethnologue website
• Wokha district website
• Tokhü Emong

• Naga people
• Christian communities of India
• People from Wokha district
• Ethnic groups in Northeast India
• Ethnic groups in India

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles needing additional references from December 2025
• All articles needing additional references
• Use dmy dates from August 2018
• Use Indian English from August 2018
• All Wikipedia articles written in Indian English
• "Related ethnic groups" needing confirmation
• Articles using infobox ethnic group with image parameters
• Commons category link is on Wikidata