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Festivals of North-East India - Art and Culture Notes
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Festivals of North East India highlight the diverse culture of the Northeast. The majority of the celebrations here are tied to agriculture,
Buddhism, or the start of the New Year. Numerous festivals last several days and include folk/tribal dancing and music. This article will
explain to you the concepts related to the Festivals of North-East India which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC
Civil service exam.

Festivals of North-East India

These festivities also provide an excellent opportunity for people from different tribes to bond.
The delectable delicacies, unique costumes, heartfelt music, kind hospitality, and lively ambience are all reasons to celebrate in the North East.
The diverse tribes and sub-tribes that populate rural North East India have many rich customs and faiths, which are most vividly portrayed in festivals.
The Hornbill Festival, which takes place in Nagaland each year, is by far the largest and most well-known festival, but there are many others throughout the
region.
Each one is an opportunity to showcase the state's and its people's unique culture, dance, and music, and while most are relatively new events, they are staged
to promote and preserve ancient traditions.

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Indian Fairs Religious Festivals

Christian Festivals Hindu Festivals

Sikh Festivals Muslim Festivals

Jain Festivals Sindhi Festivals

Buddhist Festivals Parsi or Zoroastrian Festivals

Secular Festivals kumbh mela

Hornbill Festival
It is one of the most important agricultural celebrations in Nagaland. It is an annual week-long festival that begins on December 1st.
This celebration is attended by all of the major Naga tribes, who converge at the Kisama Heritage Village.
All tribes display their talent and cultural vibrancy through clothes, weapons, bows and arrows, and clan headgears.
The Hornbill Festival, named after the huge Indian bird that appears in most tribal folklore, was established by the state government in 2000 to encourage tribes
to mix and engage, as well as to showcase Nagaland's cultural legacy.
This is also an excellent occasion for all tribes to get together and for the younger generation to build cultural links.
Additional celebrations take place during the Kohima Night Bazaar, where all of the crafts are on exhibit.
There are other interesting competitions, such as the pork eating and King Chilli eating contests.

Hornbill Festival

Saga Dawa
It is predominantly observed by Buddhist groups in the state of Sikkim.
It is observed on the full moon day in the middle of the Tibetan lunar month known as the Saga Dawa. This is regarded as a very lucky day for the Tibetan
community.
This month, which falls between May and June, is known as the Saga Dawa, or "Month of Merits."
The event commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana).
 Most people go to the monasteries to present incense sticks, dhog, and water.
People also circumambulate the monastery's Gompas, chanting mantras, reciting religious texts, and turning prayer wheels.
Throughout the month of Saga Dawa, the Buddhist community must adhere to three Buddhist teachings: generosity (dana), morality (sila), and meditation or
good sentiments (Bhavana).

Saga Dawa

Losoong Festival
Losoong celebration is held to commemorate the Sikkimese New Year. Every year in December, it is celebrated throughout the state of Sikkim.
As previously said, agriculture is the predominant occupation in the state of Sikkim, and the harvest season is celebrated by farmers and other occupational
groupings.
Traditionally, it is considered a Bhutia tribe celebration, although it is today celebrated with equal fervour and delight by the Lepchas.
The festival's distinguishing feature is that participants consume locally brewed wine known as Chaang as part of the festivities.
They also gather in monasteries to perform traditional dances such as the Cham Dance and the Black Hat Dance.
The spirit also expresses the Sikkimese community's martial ideals through Archery celebrations, etc.

Losoong Festival

Bihu Festival
Bohag Bihu is one of Assam's most prominent celebrations, held to commemorate the Assamese New Year.
Although the Assamese celebrate Bihu three times a year, the Bohag Bihu is the most important.
The three Bihu’s are:
Bohag or Rongali Bihu
Kati or Kongali Bihu
Maagh or Bhogali Bihu
Bihu is traditionally associated with the changing seasons and harvests. Every year, the Bohag Bihu is celebrated for many days beginning on April 14th.
Depending on the villages and tribes, the celebrations might last anywhere from a week to nearly a month.
Cows and bulls, the community's mainstay, are bathed and fed on the first day of the festival. This is known as the 'Gora Bihu' ceremonial.
The second day is the primary day of the Bihu celebrations when people greet one other and exchange Gamosa (a handwoven cotton towel) with their relatives.
Pitha, a traditional meal consisting of rice powder, flour, sesame, coconut, and jaggery, is prepared in all of the houses.
They also organise platforms where men and women from various cultures perform the Bihu Dance.
 Bihu Festival

Cheiraoba Festival
As the Manipuri tribes' New Year, this celebration is observed throughout the state of Manipur. It is observed in April (the first day of the month is referred to as
Sajibu).
The event is also associated with the household deity known as Sanamahi, who is worshipped by the Manipuri people.
The celebration is traditionally held at the Sanamahi temple, but every household cleans, buys new utensils, and buys new clothes for the family members.
A strange tradition associated with the Cheiraoba celebration is that on this day, people choose a person to be the 'Chahitaba,' who is responsible for the
people's sins for the full year.
He is also responsible for all of the community's good and bad fortune, and his name is given to that particular year. After checking the horoscope, the Maiba
community chooses him.
Another interesting custom associated with this occasion is that most people climb the nearby hill on this day in the hopes of reaching greater heights in their
worldly lives.

Cheiraoba Festival

Kharchi Puja
This celebration is mostly from the state of Tripura. While it began as a holiday for Tripura's royal family, it is now celebrated by ordinary homes as well.
It is observed for ten days during July each year.
The event is held in honour of Lord Shiva, who commanded that 14 other deities be worshipped.
These fourteen deities are kept at the Puran Haveli in Old Agartala. Thousands of people make the pilgrimage to this temple in Agartala each year to pay their
respects to the deities.
The temple committee also organises cultural programmes and fairs for the benefit of the general public.
 Kharchi Puja

Kharchi Puja

Kang Chingba
Kang Chingba is one of the most important Hindu festivals in the state of Manipur.
It is akin to the 'Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra,' and it has many precedents.
It is an annual 8-day celebration held in July.
The event features a Rath Yatra, which re-enacts Lord Jagannath's journey with his brothers Balabhadra and Subhadra.
The festival draws thousands of devotees from all over India, who travel to Imphal to take part in this trek. The Yatra commences at the well-known holy temple
of Sri Govindajee in Imphal.
The wood-carved and lavishly decorated idols are transported on gigantic chariots known as 'Kang.'
These deities are subsequently taken to another temple, where people dance all night to commemorate the voyage.

Kang Chingba

Kang Chingba

Wangala Festival
In Meghalaya, the main Garo Tribe primarily celebrates the Wangala festival.
The celebration marks the start of winter and pays homage to the post-harvest season.
The festival takes place in Asanang, near Tura in the Garo Hills. Every year, it falls in the second week of November.
The celebration is held in honour of 'Misi Saljong,' a local deity who is revered for his generosity. He is supposed to be the driving force behind the community's
excellent fortune.
The village leader, also known as the "Nokma," performs many ceremonies one day before the event, such as making ritual sacrifices to the deity.
Freshly brewed beer, cooked rice, and vegetables are among the offerings made to the deity-Misi Saljong. This festival is particularly unique in that music is an
important part of their celebrations.
To create a celebratory atmosphere, drums, flutes, and other orchestra instruments are played. It is also known as the '100 Drum Wangala festival,' because the
festival begins with deafening drum noises.
The day is also distinguished by the fantastic costumes worn by the participants.
The feathered headgear worn by everyone celebrating the celebration is an unusual element that also symbolises their clan colours.
 Wangala Festival

Wangala Festival

Sekrenyi Festival
The Angami tribe of Nagaland celebrates the Sekrenyi festival in February.
It falls on the 25th of the 'Kezei' month, or February, according to the Angami tribe. It is celebrated for more than ten days and is also known as 'Phousanyi' by
the Angamis.
Every day of the event has a different task, such as:
The well is cleaned one day before the ritual, and the local youth guard it to ensure that no one takes water from it.
On the first day, all of the men in the community, regardless of age, bathe in the village well. This is known as the 'Dzuseva' rite.
A cock is strangled to death with bare hands as they return from the bathing ceremony. This type of dying is thought to fend off evil spirits.
Furthermore, if the cock's right leg falls first, it is said to bring good luck. The dead bird is then hanged outside the house, and the village elders arrive to view
it.
The session of singing and feasting begins on the fourth day and continues for the next three days.
The village's young people gather to sing songs, and a communal feast of rice beer and pork is organised.
On the seventh day of the celebration, all of the young men go on hunting trips to adjacent forests, and on the eighth day, the village gathers for the bridge
pulling or gate pulling ceremony.
During the festival, all fieldwork is halted until the tenth day, when it is restarted.

Sekrenyi Festival

Sekrenyi Festival

Ambubachi Mela
It is conducted on the grounds of the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam.
The celebration takes place in June and is one of the most important festivals in North-East India, so much so that it has been termed the "Mahakumbh of the
East."
The event has long been associated with fertility practices, and many followers come to seek the Goddess' blessing on the birth of a child.
Because of the reported Tantric practices that took place during this mela, the temple has sparked controversy.
The patron Goddess Kamakhya is reported to be going through her annual menstrual cycle during the celebration.
As a result, the temple is closed for three days since it is considered dirty.
Thousands of followers flock to the Goddess's shrine as the door reopens.
During this time, the frequency of instances involving Tantrik activities is also high, and they are claimed to execute strange rites.
 Ambubachi Mela

Ambubachi Mela

Majuli Festival
This is one of the most contemporary celebrations celebrated in Majuli, Assam.
The event is held in November since it is the ideal time of year in Assam due to the varying climatic conditions.
During the festival, the Department of Culture under the State Ministry of Assam organises various events such as seminars that showcase the traditional
history and glory of Assam in general, and Majuli in particular.
Furthermore, the celebration is held on a grand scale in an open space known as Namghar.
Majuli and Assam ethnic delicacies are on display and for sale.
Several arts and crafts, such as bamboo items, shawls, and beaded jewellery, are for sale.
Some well-known artists have also been invited to exhibit their work and hold public demonstrations.
During the opening and closing ceremonies, the local patron deity is also invoked.
Several dance and singing events are held for the enjoyment of fairgoers.

Majuli Festival

Majuli Festival

Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival
This celebration is observed by almost all branches of the Naga tribes.
It is observed across Nagaland and in some Naga-populated areas of Manipur State.
The festival is held following the completion of the harvest season. Every year, it falls on the 15th of February.
It is also celebrated as the start of the seed-sowing season. The festival brings Naga tribes' agricultural branches closer to Nagas' non-agricultural
communities.
The festival is distinguished by a great deal of celebration, pomp, and display.
It is a celebration designed to bring communities together and to disseminate the message of peace and harmony.
various ceremonies revolve around blessing the seeds before sowing them, for the crop to be plentiful and disease-free.
Furthermore, the community gathers to prepare various delicacies, perform traditional dances, and display the colours of their tribe or clan.

Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival
 Lui-Ngai-Ni Festival

Dree Festival
The festival is predominantly observed by the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
Currently, an increasing number of tribes are observing the Dree festival ceremonies.
Every year on the 5th of July, it is celebrated, but the preparations and ceremonies begin a few days before the actual event.
The festival is one of the largest in the Ziro valley, and hundreds of people from communities throughout the valley come to celebrate.
People offer prayers and offerings to four principal Gods during the festival: Tamu, Metii, Danyi, and Warning.
These offerings are made to pray for a bountiful crop. People congregate in the valley to perform traditional dances.
One of the festival's most distinctive features is the distribution of cucumbers to all attendees as a symbol of a successful harvest.
Arunachali food is produced, coupled with home-brewed wine and rice/millet beer.

Dree Festival

Dree Festival

Chapchar Kut
The Chapchar Kut festival is held in Mizoram, India. It is celebrated in March, following the conclusion of their most difficult jhum operation duty, namely jungle
clearing (clearing of the remnants of burning).
It is a spring event celebrated with zeal and merriment.
Chapchar Kut is a harvest celebration called after the bamboo that has been cut and is drying before being burned and replanted.
The traditional bamboo dance, called Cheraw, is done by women (while males sit on the ground and beat bamboo sticks against each other).
Amidst symbol conflicts and drum pounding, various forms of tribal dance performances take place.

Chapchar Kut

Chapchar Kut

Mopin Festival
The Mopin Festival is an agricultural festival held by the Galo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India, more specifically by the Galo group of tribes who live in the
East Siang and West Siang districts.
Mopin is the harvest festival of the welcoming Galo tribe, and it is centred on the worship of the goddess Mopin.
It is celebrated to ward off evil spirits and to bring prosperity and wealth.
Popir, an indigenous folk dance performed by young ladies, is a highlight of the festival.
Apong, a traditional rice wine made by Galo women, is also provided.
 Mopin Festival

Mopin Festival

Trogya Festival
Torgya, also known as Tawang-Torgya , is an annual event conducted solely in Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Torgya is a three-day monastic celebration celebrated by the Monpa tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
The rites, which include holy dances performed by vividly costumed monks in the monastery's courtyard, are meant to fend off evil spirits and bring prosperity to
the tribe.

Nongkrem Festival
The Nongkrem dance festival is held in the autumn at Smit, the Khasi Hills' cultural centre.
Ka Pomblang Nongkrem dance, a five-day sacred celebration of the Khasis, is also known as the Nongkrem dance.
The Khasi tribe's annual Nongkrem Dance Ceremony is a five-day harvest thanksgiving festival.
The traditional dance is done by young men and women dressed to the nines.

Nongkrem Festival

Nongkrem Festival

Moatsu Festival
The Ao tribe of Nagaland, India, celebrate Moatsu as a celebration.
Every year, it is observed during the first week of May.
Various ceremonies are carried out during this time.
As the planting season draws to a conclusion, the Moatsu Festival is a time of immense joy.
All activities revolve around the harvest.
 Moatsu Festival

Moatsu Festival

Aoling Festival
The Aoling Event is a Nagaland festival observed by the Konyak Naga people.
The interesting Konyak tribe, formerly vicious headhunters, now live quietly, spending much of their time practising agriculture, drinking local beverages, using
opium, and occasionally hunting.
Each year, when the tribe has finished spreading seeds, they celebrate their most important event, the Aoling Festival, which marks the beginning of the spring
season and a new year.

Aoling Festival

Aoling Festival

Conclusion
Fairs and festivals, as well as traditional dancing and folk music, are an important component of tribes. Throughout the year, diverse tribes from
various states celebrate a variety of festivals. Festival season is the greatest time to learn about the culture and traditional clothing of North East
India, a hitherto unknown wonderland.

Other Relevant Links

Indian Art and Culture Indian Festivals

Calendars in India Indian Cinema

Religion in India Buddhism and Jainism

Official Languages of India Languages of India

Indian Theatre Indian Puppetry

FAQs
Question: What is the significance of Festivals in the Northeast? ➕

Question: What are the three different kinds of Bihu? ➕

Question: What is the meaning of Pitha? ➕

MCQs
Question: Consider the following statements about Saga Dawa:

1. It is mostly celebrated in the Buddhist communities living in the State of Arunachal Pradesh.
2. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death (parinirvana) of the Buddha.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) See the Explanation ➕

Question: Apatani tribe is found in:

(a) Tripura

(b) Nagaland

(c) Arunachal Pradesh

(d) Sikkim

Answer: (c) See the Explanation ➕

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