The North East region while rich in heritage culture and a curious blend of tribal ethos blended with the modern learning remains a mystery to most. The picturesque valleys and plains of the North East are abundant with traditional histories and festivals, which mark an importance in the people’s lives. If one were to cover all the important regional festivals throughout the year it would take up time in almost every month. Here is a list of just some of those festivals though we hope you find more to explore

THE HORNBILL FESTIVAL: The Hornbill festival is the most important event in Nagaland’s calendar. Hosted in its capital city, Kohima it features all the Nagamese tribes who participate in full customary regalia for all the 10 days that it welcomes tourists from across the country and the world. The festival is named after the national symbol and scared birds of Nagas the Hornbill. 

Held in the month of December for the first 10 days, it is a time when the other sleepy and quaint town of Kohima comes to life with music, festivities and the famed ‘night bazaar’.  Every day there are a host events lined up across the city with the likes of global music giants the Queens too coming to perform at the festival. The main attraction is the Hornbill exhibition at the Chisuyema village where all the tribes showcase the old ways of living life the Naga style in their Morungs (houses) the designs inspired by sailing boats. 

The participants can be seen dressed in traditional attires, cooking food over fire pits and living exactly how their ancestors did. The participating tribes showcase their own musical styles and cuisine specialty the most famed of which are the rice beer and the smoked pork. One the first and last day there is a central display of the traditional war dances as known to every tribe and this too is shown to all the audience. It is an experience worth a shot. 

2. Losar is one of the most famous festivals in Arunachal Pradesh welcoming the Tibetian New Year celebrated by the Buddhist tribes Monpa, Sherdukpens, Memba, Khamba and Nah who all look forward for this festival every year and celebrate it enthusiasm and traditional customs. 

The Losar is celebrated for a period of 3 days beginning 11th February. The festival on its first day consist of various activities wherein people clean out their houses and throw away old items to clear out the negative energy from their surroundings alongwith lighting butter lamps to bring in light and prosperity into their households. All households put up prayer flags on top of their houses and traditional prayers are recited in almost all households. 

People spend a major part of the festivities visiting friends and relatives to offer greetings and gifts.  It is the time to celebrate both the the new year as well as the much awaited harvest season where gifts of newly harvested barley are exchanged. The second day of the festival is known for honoring of the local leaders and kings and thanking them for all the good deeds. The last day, known as the Choe-Kyong Losar, is when people offer gifts to the highest priest, the Dharmapala. The main festival may be celebrated for 3 days but the spirits are high for 10-15 days.

3. Saga Dawa, Sikkim

Saga Dawa is a popular festival celebrated in Sikkim during the Tibetan lunar month. The dates are flexible since the dates depend on lunar phases and a full moon day is considered auspicious for celebrations. 

 

The day holds great significance since it is known as the month of merits (May and June). It is one of the most important Buddhist festivals, honoring the birth, death and the enlightenment of Lord Buddha. On this day the Sikkim monasteries are beautifully decorated and people visits the monasteries to offer holy water, incense sticks. People turn the prayer wheel and chant mantras.

4. Ambubachi Mela, Assam

The Kamakhya Devi temple is one of the most celebrated and revered temples in Assam. The Ambubachi Mela is the most awaited annual event of the state. It is during this mela when devotees from across the country come to visit the Kamakhya Devi temple to pay homage to the goddess. It is said that during this time the temple remains closed as the Goddess is going through her 3 day menstrual cycle. The mela generally happens in the month of June where people folk in large numbers. Once the cycle is over the temple is then opened for the devotees and allows offering prayers and offerings to the deity. It is also said that it is during the mela that the Tantriks perform their most powerful poojas calling upon spirits for assistance. 

5. Dree Festival

The Dree Festival is one of the most revered festivals of Arunachal Pradesh falling in the month of July every year. The festival is marked with animal sacrifices made to the powerful local dieites;

Tamu, Metii , Danyi and Harniang. The festival is5 celebrated to appease these Gods so as to avoid famine in the society. 

This festival is a part of the Apatanis in Arunachal Pradesh residing in a valley called Ziro. Ziro is located in lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. The tribe is famous for the practice of wet rice cultivation. The Apatanis had invented the wet rice cultivation without using any form of scientific technologies and methods.