Famous festivals of North East India

North-East India is the land of colourful tribes, dance and music flows in the heart of everybody. it is blessed with nature’s pure bliss,  indigenous culture and heritage. Various states of North-East celebrate different festivals  throughout the year. Among all the wonderful festivals celebrated in North East India, a few famous ones are mentioned below:

Rangali Bihu

Celebrated on the Assamese New Year Day, this festival heralds the arrival of spring. Men and women dress up in traditional Assamese clothes, perform Bihu dance and feast on Pitha and Larus during this day.

• Significance – Assamese New Year
• When – Between April 13^th and April 15^th (last day of Cheitra month and first day of Vaisakh month)
• Where – Assam

Losar Festival

This festival, celebrated by the Monpas community in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, denotes the arrival of Tibetan New Year. Festivities go on for at least 15 days in the Monpas households.

• Significance – New Year for Monpas and Tibet, festival of prosperity
• When – Last week of February or first week of March
• Where – Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Aoling Festival

This is the yearly, 6- day long spring festival of the head-hunting tribes of Konyaks in Nagaland. Traditional gun shots go off as part of festivities during this festival.  Various sports events are organised during this festival.

• Significance – Denotes end of sowing season
• When – April 1 to April 6
• Where – Nagaland

Mopin

This is the harvest festival celebrated by the Galo Tribe community people in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Significance – Harvest festival
• When – First week of April, usually
• Where – Arunachal Pradesh

Shad Suk Mynsiem

This is a thanksgiving festival, celebrated during the harvest time. Unmarried women take part in this dance and men dance around them in circles. This is celebrated by the Khasi tribal community in Shillong. Festivities go on for three days.

• Significance – Only unmarried women can take part in this dance
• When – April
• Where – Meghalaya

Behdeinkhlam

This is a four-day long religious festival, celebrated by Meghalaya people belonging to the faith of “KaNiamTre”.  Celebrated during July, this festival includes offering food to the ancestors of NiamTre and fetching of a sacred log of wood.

• Significance – Festivities end when the Raths are immersed in water
• When – July
• Where – Jowai, Meghalaya

Kang Chingba( Rath Yatra)

This is a chariot festival, during which thousands of Meitei Hindus pull chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram and Goddess Subadra. Celebrations go on for 8 days in Manipur during this time.

• Significance – Exactly similar JagannathRathYatra Festival in Odisha
• When – July
• Where – Shri Govindajee Temple, Imphal, Manipur

Kharchi Puja

A huge festival in Tripura, Kharchi Puja, is celebrated for 7 days, during which 14 dynasty deities of Tripura people are worshiped. It is celebrated to cleanse Mother Earth from all unholy elements.

• Significance – Very religious festival accompanied by large fairs
• When – July/August
• Where – Chaturdasha Devta Temple, Old Agartala, Tripura

Torgya

This is a 3 day long monastic festival, celebrated with lots of colours in Tawang monastery of Arunachal Pradesh. Monks perform sacred dances wearing face masks and colourful costumes as they celebrate this festival to usher in peace and prosperity.

• Significance – Chham, sacred dance of select monks is the specialty of this festival
• When – 28^th day of 11^th month in lunar calendar (usually January)
• Where – Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh