North East India is a land where nature and culture blend seamlessly to create one of the most vibrant and diverse regions in the country. These states are home to an array of communities, each with its unique traditions, rituals, and festivals. Celebrating these festivals provides a window into the rich cultural heritage, tribal roots, and spiritual life of the region.
Festivals in North East India are often linked with the agrarian calendar, tribal beliefs, or regional deities. They are celebrated with dance, music, traditional attire, and rituals, making them a must-see for travellers who wish to experience the heart of North East India. In this blog, we will explore some of the most famous and must-visit festivals and events in the region, each of which offers a unique insight into the life and culture of its people.
1. Bihu Festival (Assam)
The Bihu Festival is the most important and widely celebrated festival in Assam, marking the Assamese New Year and the beginning of the sowing season. It is celebrated three times a year—Bohag Bihu (April), Kati Bihu (October), and Magh Bihu (January)—with Bohag Bihu being the most prominent.
Highlights: Bohag Bihu is the most vibrant of the three, filled with music, dance, and feasting. People dress in traditional Assamese attire and perform the Bihu dance, accompanied by songs known as Bihu Geet. Cattle are also worshipped, and feasts with traditional dishes such as pitha, larus, and sira-doi (flattened rice with curd) are central to the celebrations. The festival is a joyful expression of Assamese culture, characterised by energetic dance performances and unique traditional food.
Best Time to Visit: April (Bohag Bihu), January (Magh Bihu).
2. Hornbill Festival (Nagaland)
The Hornbill Festival, held every year from December 1 to 10 in Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, Nagaland, is one of the most famous festivals in North East India. Known as the “Festival of Festivals,” it is organised by the Government of Nagaland to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the 16 tribes of Nagaland. Named after the great Indian hornbill, a bird symbolic of Nagaland’s folklore, the festival is a grand showcase of Naga culture, arts, and traditions.
Highlights: Visitors can witness traditional Naga dance performances, folk songs, indigenous games, and a variety of handicrafts. The festival also features rock music performances, a beauty contest, and a motor rally. A significant part of the festival is the celebration of Naga cuisine, with food stalls serving dishes like smoked pork and bamboo shoot. The festival is a living museum of Naga tribal life and an excellent opportunity to experience the unique cultural diversity of Nagaland in one place.
Best Time to Visit: December 1 to 10.
3. Losar Festival (Arunachal Pradesh/Sikkim)
Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is celebrated by the Monpa, Sherdukpen, and Tibetan Buddhist communities of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. This festival usually takes place in late February or early March and marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar Tibetan calendar. It is a time to cleanse the old year’s bad omens and start afresh with prayers and festivities.
Highlights: The celebration includes prayers, the hoisting of prayer flags, and the lighting of butter lamps in monasteries. Colorful masked dances (Cham dances) performed by monks in traditional attire are a major attraction. It’s a spiritual festival where people visit monasteries, make offerings, and seek blessings for the upcoming year. The festival provides an authentic experience of Tibetan Buddhism, with its colorful rituals and spiritually charged atmosphere.
Best Time to Visit: February to March (according to the Tibetan lunar calendar).
4. Ziro Music Festival (Arunachal Pradesh)
Held in the picturesque Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, the Ziro Music Festival is one of India’s most popular outdoor music festivals. Known for its eco-friendly approach, this four-day event typically takes place in September and brings together some of the best independent musicians from across India and abroad.
Highlights: The festival is a celebration of music in harmony with nature. The main stage is set against the backdrop of the lush Ziro Valley, surrounded by misty mountains and bamboo forests. Music genres range from indie rock and folk to electronic. The festival also gives visitors a chance to interact with the Apatani tribe and explore their rich culture. The festival offers a unique fusion of contemporary music and tribal culture, set in one of the most scenic landscapes in North East India.
Best Time to Visit: September.
5. Wangala Festival (Meghalaya)
The Wangala Festival, also known as the “100 Drums Festival,” is celebrated by the Garo tribe of Meghalaya to honor the Sun God of fertility and mark the end of the agricultural season. It is usually held in November after the rice harvest and involves offerings and prayers for a good harvest.
Highlights: The festival features traditional Garo dances, accompanied by rhythmic drumming on long cylindrical drums known as “dama.” Participants dress in colourful costumes, with headgear made of feathers and beads. The dances mimic the sowing, harvesting, and hunting activities of the Garos, and the rhythmic beat of the drums echoes across the hills. The festival offers a rich insight into Garo tribal customs, especially through the dance and drum performances, which are central to the celebration.
Best Time to Visit: November.
7. Yaoshang Festival (Manipur)
Yaoshang is one of the most important festivals in Manipur, celebrated by the Meitei people. Coinciding with the Hindu festival of Holi, Yaoshang is celebrated for five days in March. The festival combines religious ceremonies, sports competitions, and vibrant Holi celebrations with colors.
Highlights: One of the key features of the Yaoshang Festival is the “Thabal Chongba,” a traditional Manipuri folk dance where boys and girls hold hands and dance in a circle under the moonlight. Along with cultural performances, local sports events are organized, and the festival ends with the joyful throwing of colors, similar to Holi. It is a blend of Holi festivities with Manipuri culture, especially the enchanting Thabal Chongba dance.
Best Time to Visit: March (around the time of Holi).
8. Sangai Festival (Manipur)
The Sangai Festival, named after the endangered Sangai deer native to Manipur, is held annually in November to promote tourism and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state. This festival, organized by the Government of Manipur, is a vibrant celebration of the state’s traditional arts, crafts, cuisine, sports, and natural beauty.
Highlights: Cultural performances, traditional martial arts displays, and indigenous sports such as “Mukna Kangjei” (a combination of hockey and wrestling) are part of the festival. Visitors can also enjoy boat rides on the scenic Loktak Lake, home to the Sangai deer, and explore exhibitions featuring local handicrafts and handlooms.
Best Time to Visit: November.
9. Torgya Festival (Arunachal Pradesh)
Overview:
The Torgya Festival is a Buddhist festival celebrated by the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in the Tawang Monastery. This three-day event, held in January, is performed to ward off evil spirits and ensure prosperity in the coming year.
Highlights: The festival includes colourful mask dances performed by monks to symbolise the triumph of good over evil. The traditional Cham dances, performed in elaborate costumes and masks, are the main attraction. Prayers are offered, and ritualistic ceremonies are held to bring peace and harmony to the community. The mesmerising masked dances performed in the Tawang Monastery, a major Buddhist centre in India.
Best Time to Visit: January.
10. Sekrenyi Festival (Nagaland)
Sekrenyi is one of the most significant festivals of the Angami tribe in Nagaland. Celebrated in February, it is a purification festival that marks the beginning of the new year and a time for community bonding and renewal.
Highlights: The festival lasts for ten days and involves various rituals of purification, feasting, and merrymaking. Traditional Angami games, folk songs, and dances are performed to mark the occasion. People wear traditional attire, and the festival promotes unity and the continuation of the tribe’s age-old traditions. It emphasises on purification and the revival of tribal traditions through ritual and dance.
Best Time to Visit: February.
