Nagaland is the destination of colours, rituals, and festivals. The diversity of people and tribes, each with their own cultures and heritages, create a year-long atmosphere of celebrations in the state. The most prominent festival is the Hornbill festival. A lot of tourists from all over the world come to this destination to attend this festival.
Festival Destination
The dazzling array of ethnic lifestyle opens up fresh insights into a land that has a prism-like beauty. In their festivals, we get to know about their rich culture and tradition. The sixteen tribes of Nagaland hold separate festivals with their culture and lifestyle. In that sense, Nagaland has a festival every month. The tribes in Nagaland have festivals around the elements like the spirits that saunter the villages and forests; the fertility of soil; community bonding; purification and rejuvenation. Nagaland is a perfect destination to explore unknown festivals.
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16 Tribes And Their Main Festival In Nagaland
The Angamis
The Sekrenyi festival of the Angami Nagas is their main festival. It is a celebration of purification accompanied by feasting and singing. A highlight of Sekrenyi is the Thekra Hie. Village youth gather and croon the traditional songs throughout for the day.
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The Konyaks
Aoleang Monyu is an ancient spring festival. Konyaks tribe celebrates this festival in the first week of April. The forefathers of Konyak believed they were direct descendants of Noah. And they have biblical names like Mosa, Kaisa, Aron etc. Added to this, it is believed that they crossed a mythical gate called Alem-kaphan. Which the Konyaks interpret as the gate of the sun. The village heads still use the word “Wang” for themselves which means “the beginning of everything”.
The Chakhesangs
A new year of activities begins with the arrival of spring. Tsukhenye festivals all activities related to sports and entertainment begin after the harvest. The first morning the festival, the village priest sacrifices the first rooster that crows. The menfolk purify themselves by bathing in a designated well. No women are allowed here. After bathing, they invoke God for strength, long life, good harvest etc. Sukrunyi is one of the essential Chakhesang festivals. Girls and boys are consecrated through religious ceremonies and rituals.
The Aos
The Aos celebrated Moatsu festival after the season of sowing is over. The festival celebrated with vigorous singing and dancing continues the customary practices of making the best rice beer.
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The Sumis
Sumis main festival is Tuluni which means rice beer. As the festival sees a lot of consumption of beverages and food during the summer. That’s when the granaries are full and food abundant.
The Changs
Naknyulem is a festival of bonding through the exchange of gifts and delicacies amongst friends and relatives. Meat, wine and freshly packed bread are abundantly used. Festival run through lots of fun sports and games. For this festival, the Chang decorate their houses with a special kind of tree.
The Rengmas
Nagada is an annual celebration of the Rengmas Nagas. It is the festival of thanksgiving and rejoicing. Also, this underscores the end of the agricultural year.
The Sangtams
The Sangtams have about twelve festivals spread over the calendar year. All the festivals are connected to food production, blessings, and prosperity. Mongmong is one of the important festivals of the Sangtams. The main feature of the festival is the worship of the God of the house and three cooking stones in the fireplace.
The Phoms
Moneu is a new year festival. And Monyu’s arrival is announced by the beating of log drums with a distinct tune. The features of the festival are men folk showing respect to their married daughters or sisters by offering them specially prepared food and rice beer. This custom reflects the high status of women in a Phom household.
The Pochuris
Yemshe is the festival for blessing the upcoming harvest. all the Pochuries celebrate this festival with great pomp and gaiety anticipating a good harvest.
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The Lothas
The Lothas celebrates Tokhu Emong once the harvesting is over. And the granaries are full. The entire village participates in the celebrations. The main features of the feast are community songs, dance, feast fun and frolic.
The Khiamniungams
Miu is a bonding festival. The main purpose of Miu is to build and reinforce relations between a maternal uncle and his nephews and nieces.
The Kukis
Kukis celebrates Mimkut, a harvest festival for a week from the 17th day of Kuki month of Tolbol. The village medicine man sacrifices fowls and performs a series of rituals. Because they believe to propitiate the spirit of demon-god during this festival.
The Kacharis
The Bushu is a post-harvest festival in January. And Kacharis people generally celebrate it around a full moon night.
The Yimchungers
The Yimchungers celebrate the Metumniu festival after the millet crop harvested. And Young girls and boys are get engaged during this 5 days long festivals.
The Leliangs
Hega is Leliangs matrimonial festival, dedicated to the almighty. It is considered as an auspicious time for young couples to tie the nuptial knot. The festival begins with a variety of programmes and merrymaking.
Celebrate the life
Nagaland is a land of challenges is due to its geographical placement and weather. Most importantly, the tribes know how to take challenges positively and celebrate life. For them, festivals are meant for connecting with the community and thanking nature and God for food and life. This spirit of living is badly missing in the city. Hence once we should go and visit the destination of the festival to learn to celebrate life.
