Introduction
The festivals of North East India offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s diverse cultures, traditions, and rituals. Encompassing a vibrant array of celebrations, these festivals reflect the unique heritage and spiritual fervor of the indigenous communities.
Key Festivals
Festival |
State |
Significance |
Solung |
Arunachal Pradesh |
|
Myoko Festival |
Arunachal Pradesh |
- It is celebrated in March as a festival of friendship and harmony between various Apatani villages.
|
Mopin |
Arunachal Pradesh |
- It is a festival of the Galo community and is associated with agriculture.
- The objective of this festival is to drive away evil spirits.
|
Buddha Mahotsava |
Arunachal Pradesh |
- It is celebrated in Tawang to preserve the Buddhist cultural heritage and encourage Buddhist Tourism.
|
Dree Festival |
Arunachal Pradesh |
- An agriculture rite observed by Apatanis involving the sacrifice of eggs and animals to the Sun and Moon Gods.
|
Torgya Monastery Festival |
Arunachal Pradesh |
- It is celebrated by the Monpa community to welcome a healthy and prosperous new year.
|
Bihu Festival |
Assam |
- It is celebrated thrice a year to mark the three important stages of agricultural operation.
- Bohag Bihu (also known as Rongali Bihu) marks the beginning of sowing.
- Kati Bihu is observed to pray for the standing crops.
- Magh Bihu (also known as Bhogali Bihu) marks the harvesting season.
|
Dehing Patkai Festival |
Assam |
- It is organised at Lekhpani in January every year and is named after the Dehing River and Patkai range in eastern Assam.
|
Ambubachi mela |
Assam |
- It is associated with the annual purification rites of Goddess Kamakhya held every year in the middle of the month of June at the Kamakhya Temple. It is also referred to as Mahakumbh of the East.
|
Kang Chingba |
Manipur |
- It is a 10-day-long festival that is celebrated in July every year celebrated by the Meitei community who follow Vaishnavism.
|
Cheiraoba Festival |
Manipur |
- It is the Manipuri New Year celebrated during the Manipuri month of Sajibu (March/April).
|
Nongkrem Dance Festival |
Meghalaya |
- It is celebrated annually to appease the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for the people’s rich bumper harvest and prosperity.
|
Wangala Festival |
Meghalaya |
- It is a harvest festival among the Garos to thank Misi Saljong, the ‘Sun God’ and Mini-ma Kiri Rokime, the ‘Goddess of Grains’.
|
Chapchar Kut |
Mizoram |
- It is a thanksgiving festival celebrated after clearing the jungles for Jhum cultivation. It is also celebrated as a spring festival with great fervour. [UPSC 2018]
|
Losoong Festival |
Sikkim |
- It is a festival to celebrate the harvest. The Black Hat dance takes place at this festival commemorating the victory of good over evil, with ‘chaams’ held in many monasteries two days prior to Losoong.
|
Saga Dawa |
Sikkim |
|
Kharchi Puja |
Tripura |
- It is also called the ‘Festival of 14 Gods‘, and is observed on the eighth day of the new moon in July or August every year.
|
Majuli Festival |
Assam |
- It is organized in November on Majuli Island by the State Ministry of Assam, with the invocation of the local patron deity during opening and closing ceremonies.
|
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Conclusion
- The festivals of North East India serve as vibrant expressions of cultural identity, social cohesion, and spiritual reverence.
- They not only celebrate the richness of the region’s cultural heritage but also foster a sense of unity and belonging among its people.