Fairs and Festivals of Nagaland

Nagaland being a state of 16 important tribes and sub tribes have various fairs and festivals that are celebrated through out the year. Tucked in the mountains, Nagas are close to the nature and enjoy the beauty that the seasons bestow on them. Their main occupation being terrace farming, growing rice and paddy they have a close proximity with nature and offer prayers to the Nature Gods to help them in good harvest. All the Naga fairs and festivals are a part of the celebrations of the bountiful nature.

Yemshe Festival

The Yemshe Festival, one of the most important festivals of the Pochury tribe of Nagaland is celebrated in the 4th week of September and lasts till the first week of October. A festival that celebrates good harvest, Yemshe is a way to owe allegiance to the Gods for bestowing on them a good harvest. After a year of hard work the Pochuries deserve a week full of festivities to relax and enjoy. One is not allowed to harvest during the festivity. Among lots of fanfare the festival is celebrated.

Before the commencement of the festival full preparations are undertaken by the village folks. Wells, fields, footpaths and individual homes are cleaned, baskets are made and rituals are performed by the head of the family. Engaged couples renew their friendship and exchange food and wine during the festival. A purification feast is hosted. The family that observes the feast follows certain rituals before the day. Food and wine are provided by the to the rest of the village by the hosts. Bamboo mugs are made by the members of the family for drinking wine. Old mugs from the villagers are collected. Paddy is distributed to the families in the village and cooked rice is then collected and is again redistributed with meat to the families. Clansmen carry a chicken or a mithun on the way to the Jhum field where a resting shade is constructed for the host of the purification feast. It is believed that fertile lands are captured by devils and animal sacrifices are done to restore the land as well as appease the devils. Wine is carried to the fields and different clans drink wine and avoid mixing with other groups. On the day of the feast villagers come together to eat and drink. The last day is the feast-cleansing day. Farmers renew their harvest with the blessings of the God.

Tuluni Festival

Important festival of the Sumi Nagas, Tuluni festival is celebrated during the second week of July to celebrate the season of bounty. The festival is of great importance and wine, which is called Tuluni, is served among the families. Tuluni is also called “Anni” which means the season of plentiful crops. The Nagas celebrate by inviting friends and families for dinner. Engaged couples exchange food, wine and gifts. They invite each other for dinner. Sacrifices are done of the totem animal of the clan and are then feasted upon. Song and ballads are part of the revelry.

The Nazu festival

The Pochury tribe celebrates Nazu festival with great pomp and Show. Celebrated for 10 days, Nazu is celebrated in the month of February before sowing of the seeds for the year. Among a lot of fanfare this festival is celebrated. Songs and dances performed during this occasion. The women perform Khupielilie dance. The festival is more entertaining than ritualistic. The Khupielilie dance performers wear Kiileniinyi, covering chest to the calf, waistbands resembling necklaces, Achulhre, armlets called akhi, bangles for forearms known as akhusa and beautiful necklaces, Askers. They also adorn Ascunyi, a headdress. The performers with harmonious movements of hands and legs dance to the beats and tunes of different songs.

The Moatsü Festival

The Ao tribes of Nagaland celebrate the Moatsu Festival in the first week of month of May. It is celebrated for 3 days but preparations start much before the commencement of the festival. During this period various rituals are performed. Moatsü Mong is observed by the Aos after the sowing is done. Just before the festival the Aos clear fields, burn jungles, sow seeds, clean wells and repairs as well construction of houses are done by elders of the Putu Menden. It is after a stressful week of hard work they break into mirth and merriment. One of the major events of the festival is Sangpangtu, where a big fire is lit and the Aos sit around it while the women folk serve wine and meat. Head priests predict good and the evil befalling on the villagers. Numerous customs and rituals are practiced. It is a festival where families compete in brewing the best rice beer and rearing the best animals for sacrifice. Women weave colorful traditional dresses and adorn themselves with ornaments. Women join the men folk in dancing, singing and eating.

Warrior songs as well as songs in praise of the lovers are sang through out the festivals. The festival invokes the Lord’s blessings for crops, building and repairing houses, cleaning of Tsubü (Water Wells) and marriages.

The Hornbill Festival

To facilitate tourism in Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland has evolved a festival called Hornbill Festival. Celebrated in Kohima it falls between the 1st and 5th of December. The festival celebrates all the major festivals of Nagaland. It is aimed at reviving, protecting and sustaining richness of the Naga heritage and traditions.

During the festival traditional handicrafts, paintings, woodcarvings and sculptures are displayed. The performers sing songs, dance to the tunes of folk songs and play games and sports. Music concerts are held in the evenings.

The Sekrenyi Festival

Angamis of Nagaland celebrate the festival of Sekrenyi in the month of February. Sekrenyi normally falls in the 25th day of the Angami month of "Kezei". This 10 day festival of Sekrenyi is also called Phousnyi by the Angamis. “Keizi” is first of the rituals performed during the festival. On the first day of the festival, young and old men bathe in the village well. Prior to the day they clean the well thoroughly and post village youths at night to guard it. No one is allowed to fetch water from the village well after cleaning it.

Early in the morning village men take their bath. The whole ritual is performed in a ceremonial manner. This ceremony is called "Dzuseva". It is symbolic of cleaning away all the ills and misfortunes by purifying the water. After the bathing ceremony on returning home a cock is strangled with bare hands. It is considered a good omen when the right leg falls down. The bird is then hung outside the home for the elders of the village to inspect it. Form the fourth day the three day session of singing and feasting begins.

Young people sit together and sing songs through out the day while jugs of rice beer and meat are served around. Young men go hunting on the seventh day but on the eighth day the bridge-pulling or gate-pulling ceremony is very entertaining where other villages are also invited. All filed work ceases until the culmination of the festival.

This beautiful land of abundant natural beauty has immense tourist attraction. The ethnic tribes, the flora and fauna attract many. Log on to northeastindia.com to know about Fairs and Festivals of Nagaland.