Top 10 Festivals of North East India

Festivals in North East India honor the region's diverse history. The majority of the festivals in this area are linked to agriculture, Buddhism, or the start of the New Year. There are numerous festivals that last several days and feature folk/tribal dance and music. The sumptuous delicacies, intriguing outfits, soulful music, friendly hospitality, and festive ambiance are all compelling reasons to attend the North East's festivities.

LOSAR FESTIVAL, ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Losar, one of the most significant Buddhist festivals in Tawang, commemorates the arrival of the New Year, held on the first day of the Tibetan lunisolar calendar, which falls in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is held to ward off bad spirits and to mark the New Year's arrival. The first three days are very important in this 15-day festival. On the first day of Losar, people clean up their homes, decorating them with 8 promising symbols – the valuable parasol, a victory banner, a right white conch, two golden fish, a lotus flora, a treasure vase, the Dharma Wheel, and The Eternal Knot called Tashi dargy.

MAJULI FESTIVAL, ASSAM

Majuli festival is also described as one of the most pleasing and beautiful festivals in Northeast India by those who have seen it. The Majuli Festival, held in Garamur on the banks of the river Luit every year in November, is a four-day event that celebrates the Majuli region's unique Neo-Vaishnavite history, as well as the culture of Assam as a whole. Majuli Festival's most captivating feature is the convergence of various ethnic groups under the same sky while also maintaining their distinct identities. 

INDIA INTERNATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, MEGHALAYA

The festival, which takes place in Meghalaya from November 14 to November 17, is one of a kind. The festival commemorates the appearance of Himalayan Cherry Blossoms, which are only available for a short time. The festival is co-organized by the Forest & Environment Department of the State of Meghalaya and the Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development (IBSD) of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The Cherry Blossom Festival attracts tourists from all over the world, generating tourism and creating several job opportunities for the state. As a result, Meghalaya and the north-eastern states will benefit from increased tourism.

ANTHURIUM FESTIVAL, MIZORAM

Anthurium Festival features a wide range of cultural and traditional events such as music, dance, handloom, handicrafts, traditional games, and athletics. Archery, rifle shooting, and angling events are also part of the celebration, as are community exhibits of traditional dress. The spirit of celebration is promised to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul against the backdrop of the enchanting and mystic Reiek Mountain.

AOLING FESTIVAL, NAGALAND

The Konyak Nagas mark the coming of spring in the first week of April with the Aoling festival. The Aoling festival, one of the many special festivals of Northeast India, lasts six days and the first day of the festival is known as the Konyak New Year. During the festival, tribal members perform ceremonies such as animal sacrifices, feasts, dances, and cleanliness drives in the village.

KHARCHI PUJA, TRIPURA
 

Kharchi Puja is a holy procedure of paying respect to Mother Earth and is one of Tripura's most well-known pujas. The Kharchi Puja lasts seven days, and the people of Tripura devote their lives to worshiping the Fourteen Deities who are worshipped during Kharchi Puja. The Kharchi Puja is performed at the Old Agartala temple of fourteen gods. The fourteen deities are taken to the river Saidra on the day of puja, accompanied by heavy mantra chanting. After that, they are bathed, and the deities are then adorned with roses and vermillion.

NINGOL CHAKOUBA, MANIPUR

Ningol Chakouba, a celebration of Meiteis or Vaishnavites, is one of Manipur's most well-known and significant festivals. This event is now also witnessed by Manipuri Muslims. Married women who live in rural areas after marriage are welcomed to their parents' house through this festival. They spend the whole day with their friends, are pampered, and are greeted with blessings and presents as they return to their marital homes. Ningol Chakouba is observed on the second day of the New Moon in the Manipuri month of Hiyangei, which occurs in November.

SAGA DAWA, SIKKIM

Saga Dawa, one of Sikkim's most sacred Buddhist festivals, occurs during the Tibetan lunar month. The Buddhists declare Saga Dawa, the full moon day in the middle of the lunar month, to be auspicious. The ‘Month of Merits,' also known as Saga Dawa, takes place between May and June. The Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death are all commemorated during this festival. People meet at monasteries to give water, incense sticks, and dhog on the occasion of Saga Dawa in Sikkim.

HORNBILL FESTIVAL, NAGALAND

Hornbill Festival, named after Nagaland's most beloved bird, takes place every year in the first week of December. Nagaland's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, and most of the state's festivals revolve around it. As a result, they place a high value on engaging in and celebrating these festivals with zeal and enthusiasm. The state of Nagaland is home to an uncountable number of tribal groups. They are known for holding festivals in honor of the tribes' significance.. The festival of festivals is another name for it.

NONGKREM DANCE FESTIVAL, MEGHALAYA

The Khasi tribe holds the Nongrem Dance Festival in the picturesque Khasi hills of Meghalaya to thank the Goddess Ka Blei Synshar for a plentiful harvest, prosperity, and unity among the tribe's members. A festival lasting five days, which takes place in November. Many young men and women clad in traditional red and yellow outfits can be seen rejoicing and dancing to the beats of the drums and tangmuri at the festival. Men are seen wielding a sword and a whisk.

ZIRO FESTIVAL, ARUNACHAL PRADESH

In the Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh, the popular Ziro Music Festival is organized each year at the end of September. Bobby Hano and guitarist from Menwhopause, Anup Kutty, launched the festival in 2012. Different Indian musical talents are performing at this 4-day party, a great fusion of culture, tradition and music attracting many young people looking for soulful music all over the world. Hosted by the Apatani tribe, people who visit the Ziro Valley, in particular, will certainly not be disappointed by this four-day love of music.

Purvi Discovery

With so many lively festivals to look forward to in Northeast India, start organizing your year around them! Purvi Discovery allows you to explore local neighborhoods, interact with people, enjoy local cuisines, and learn about diverse lifestyles, customs, societies, and contexts.  We believe that spending a few hours a day reading together, singing music, dancing, and playing sports with people from all over the world will bring enormous value and open doors to the world for our children and our people on the plantations, who are otherwise cut off from the rest of the world and limited by inequality and marginalization.