The morung or the dormitory system, now relegated to the past, is existing in its original form only in a few villages. Morung used to be an essential part of Naga life. The morung originally was a training center, a dormitory around 20 m long and 10 m high, where the young were instructed on the necessary subjects. The Naga culture, customs and traditions which were transmitted from generation to generation through folk music and dance, folk tales and oral traditions were conveyed to the young in the Morungs.
The morung served many purposes. It acted as the meeting house where weapons and prizes of war were stored. The morungs were usually located at the village entrance or on a spot from where the village could be guarded most effectively.
Many villages had morungs for unmarried men to live. However, some tribes had small houses for unwed girls. The morungs were thus adapted as guard houses, recreational clubs and sometimes centers of education, art and discipline.
