Asian_Geographic_PASSPORT_-_Year_2016_-_2017

For centuries, indigenous tattooists
working across Asia have marked
human skin with powerful designs and
symbols in their quest to signal ethnic
identity and render the body sacred.
Carried through life and onwards into
death, these marks of humanity testify
to an ancestral legacy that is in danger
of gradually fading away.

The Marks of the Warrior
It’s early April on the India-Myanmar
border and the Konyak Aoling festival
is in full swing. Here in the village of
Longwa, volleys of musket fire explode

• pop, pop, pop – and clouds of heavy
  smoke interrupt the blue sky. Throngs
  of plumed, tattooed, and traditionally-
  garbed Konyak warriors jump, chant,
  and re-enact their former exploits on
  the battlefield in a concerted attempt
  to honour and attract the attention of
  Wangwan, their divine spirit of blessing.
  Aoling is a new year celebration of
  sorts, marking the end of winter and the
  coming of the new agricultural year. All

Men who had participated

in combat and who had

taken a human life were

entitled to unique tattoos

Top Konyak warriors

of Longwa village

celebrate the Aoling

festival

boTTom The Kayan

tattoos of Ado Ngo

promote fertility and

repel evil spirits

64 CULTURE