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Festivals of Nagaland
Festivals of Nagaland
Festivals of Nagaland
1.INTRODUCTION
In every Naga festivals, one will find large cultural troops, display of
the most costly traditional attires and ornaments. traditional musical
instruments are played with sweetest tune bringing the past glory
and honour through songs and dances. Various traditional games are
also displayed during the occasion.
Every Naga tribe has its own festivals and dances celebrated through
out the year. However all festivals are associated with songs and
dances, yet no common dance or song has been developed that could
represent the whole of Nagaland. Therefore this research covers and
documents the various festivals celebrated by all the Naga tribes and
presents the importance and need of a common song or dance that
can represent the whole of Nagaland.
Thekra- Hie is the best part of the festival where the young people of
the village sit together and sing traditional songs throughout the day.
Jugs of rice beer and plates of meat are placed before the participants.
On the seventh day the young man go for hunting. The most
important festival falls on the eight day when the bridge-pulling or
gate- pulling is performed or inter village visits are exchanged. Until
the close of the festival, no one goes to the fields and field work cease
during this season of feasting and celebration. The young unmarried
girls with closely shaven heads sit down with the bronzed youth
singing tunes of bygones ages, recreating a past where no care
touched the human soul.
III.b. Moatsii Festival of the Ao Tribe
This is the main festival of the Aos , which is celebrated in the spring
season, normally observed just after the completion of sowing seeds
in fields. It invokes blessings upon new grains in the field and also
protection of new crops from all sorts of pest throughout the season.
It falls in the first week of may every year. Before the celebration of
Moatsii, seeds of all kinds are sown in the field. Then, the farmers wait
for the healthy germination and growth of all seeds sown, that may
result plentiful harvest. For that purpose, it depends on the mercy of
Lijaba, believed to be the creator of earth who holds the blessing of
soil and the fruits. For this reason, the festival of invoking blessing is
essentially required.
It is also a time where the young folks has the opportunity to learn
new songs and dances. It is said that amongst the Nagas, the Aos have
given up traditional beliefs and practices including the observances of
festivals much earlier than other tribes because of Christianity.
The sixth day is the tentini, the main day, where the youngest age
group collect shiziingzii sword bean rope a day ahead of the Moatsii
festival. On the last day tug of war is played between men and
women, where men take the stem and women the branches. In the
process songs were sung in glee, dances and all traditional games
were displayed .Erecting of Moatsii pillar is one of the important part
of the festival where climbing competitions were held. It is not
ordinarily planted anywhere but at a selected place, believed to be
pure. Generally the youngest pier group arranges the pillar well before
hand near the village salang. Only the healthy grown bamboo were
selected and brought to the village and then planted facing the
sunrise, polished with pig fats. The pillars signifies the tree of victory,
mangko dong, the tree where human heads are kept hanging.
All age groups takes part in the climbing competition where the
boys have the opportunity to impress the women folks.
During this festival only the best of the male domestic animals is
slaughtered for feasting .Games and sports, music and dances were a
part
Chakhesang men presenting a song at Hornbill festival, 2014.
of the festival. During this festival, the married women goes to their
parents’ house and prepare the best food for their husbands. By the
end of the festival all the attires of games and musical instruments
were put to an end until the next season. This is followed by sowing of
paddy and planting of new seeds.
III.d. Naknyu Lum festival of the Chang Tribe
The Chang tribe usually celebrates the
most number of festivals amongst the
Naga tribes. Naknyu Lum is observed
during the eleventh month of Chang
calendar which falls during July. According
to their traditional belief,the entire world
was enveloped with total darkness,all
night through out. The darkness was so
thick that no general work could be done
and people were forced to remain at their
homes for six days. By then supplies for
burning and needs were all over, even
horns of animals were burnt to keep the
kitchen alive. As the seventh day
approaches, the people with great joy
welcome the occasion and pray thank
giving to the God and held Naknyulum.
The first day is called “Hoi Lai Yah”. All the arrangement for the festival
is done on this day. Items necessary for the occasion like, fire wood,
vegetables, rice-beer, new cloths and all ornaments are prepared. The
head of the family offers a sacrifice at the field with a chicken.A
dancing stage called “Aoleang Wakam” is constructed in every Morung
for dancing performances.
Konyak women and Men in traditional attire
The second day is called “Yin Mok Pho Nyih” , where domestic animals
are hunted from the jungles and brought it to the village. Young boys
are also encouraged to join the hunting and on their return from the
hunt ,young boys and girls are tattooed the next day.
The third day , all the arranged animals are killed ,which is called “Yin
Mok Shek Nyih”. It is on this day that feasting on meat begin. A well
decorated bamboo flag known as “Koip Hong” is hoisted , playing of
log drums .All the men gathered at the Morung will have the best
meat and rice-beer.
The forth day is the most awaited time of the festival called “Lingnyu
Nyih”, where everyone is dressed with the finest traditional attire and
spends the whole day in celebration, feasting, dances, songs are items
presented. On this day the younger boys were also shown and taught
the art of head hunting .On the return from the place called “pejing”
which means ‘entrance gate of the village’ ,the men starts dancing in
different Morung , it is an opportunity to utter out positive and
negative thoughts and attitudes about each other through songs.
The fifth day is called “Lingha Nyih”. This day is observed by honouring
each other; family feasting is celebrated religiously where married
sisters are welcome to the home and offer them the best feast by
their parents. New household friendship is also declared.
The six day marks the end of the festival. It is a day for cleaning the
village and houses.
The main feature of the Monyiu festival is the occasion when the male
members of the family show love and renew their affectionate
feelings towards their married daughter or sister by presentation them
the purest rice and specially prepared food. Such conduct reflects the
The six days long festival fellows a circle of rituals and activities
briefly described below:-
The forth day is called Chinge Okshok, the entire village or tribe
together observed Monyiu festival.
The most colourful day is on the fifth day of the festival. Every
one is well dressed and tidy. Traditional costumes are well displayed
on this day
In the event that death had occurred in a household that year, or any
domestic animal had given birth the previous night , all members of
such households are debarred not only from taking part in the
competition but also from mingling with others during such festivities
and competitions. In most of the villages, it is considered that the day
belong to the men and young boys. In order to prepare for the games
and sports during this festival,men and young boys gather in groups of
Khel or clans and take turns to feed the members, giving out the best
they could afford,so that fresh meat or good food is available for some
time and also to give equal opportunity to all to eat and to practice
etc.
IV.Conclussion:-
The Nagas celebrate festivals through-out the year. All the Naga tribes
and villages having its own festivals and celebration at different times
of the year, live participation to all the festivals was not possible. With
the coming of Christianity the active celebration of festivals was not to
the highest forte f almost all the Nagas . Though people still observe
the festivals or remembers the time of festivals, major participation
and strict rituals are all forgotten or fully practiced . Folk songs and
dances are rarely presented. Generally festivals are now celebrated
feasting and fun alone.
All the festivals celebrated by the Nagas are associated with feasting,
dancing, singing and traditional games, but not much have been
encouraged practically to promote cultural dances. Dancing is natural
to the Naga tribes. it is full of vigour and vitality. It is difficult to
generalise but roughly it could be said that the artist first slowly enters
the arena or stage, form a circle and gradually speed up the tempo
with the stamping of feet , interspersed with clapping and chanting or
singing. The spear , dao or other traditional usages are swung to the
rhythm of the dance, depending on the different types of dances.
Table of contents:-
I. Introduction
II. Objective of the study
III. Ten Major tribes of Nagaland
III.a. Sekreni festival of the Angami tribe
III.b. Moatsii Festival of the Ao Tribe
III.c. Tsukhenyie Festival of the Chakhesang tribe
III.d. Naknyu Lum festival of the Chang Tribe
III.e. Aoleang Monyu Festival of the Konyak tribe
III.f. Miu festival of the Khiamniugan tribe
III.g. Tokhii Emong festival of the Lotha Tribe
III.h. Monyiu festival of the Phom tribe
III.i. Tuluni Festival of the Sumi tribe
III.j. Langsimnyi festival of the Zeliang tribe
IV. Conclussion