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is a hill state
located in the far northeastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to
the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the
north, Myanmar to the east and Manipur to the south.
The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur. With a population
of nearly two million people, it has a total area of 16,579 km. - making it one
of the smallest states of India. Nagaland is largely a mountainous state. The Naga Hills rise from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam to about 2,000 feet and rise further to the southeast, as high as 6,000 feet. Mount Saramati at an elevation of 12,552level is the state's highest peak - this is where the Naga Hills merge with the Patkai Range in Myanmar. Rivers such as the Doyang and Dhiku to the north, the Barak river in the southwest and the Chindwin river of Myanmar in the southeast, dissect the entire state.
The tribes of Nagaland are Lothas, Angami, Ao,
Chakhesang , Chang, K
FESTIVAL of NAGALAND
The Angami's celebrate SEKRENYI in the month of February. It normally falls on the 25th day of the Angami month of KEZEI. The ten-day festival is also called PHOUSANYI by the Angami's. The festivals follows a circle of ritual and ceremony, the first being “KIZIE”. followed by “DSUSEVA” (touching the sleeping water) sacrifices are also made during this time.
The THEKRA HIE is the best part of the festival where the young people of the village is sit together and sing traditional songs throughout the day. Jugs of rich-beer and plates of meat are placed before the participants. On the seventh day the young men go for hunting. The most important ceremony falls on the eighth day when bridge-pulling or gate pulling is performed or inter-village visits are exchanged. Until the close of the festival, no one goes to fields and all field work cease during this season of feasting and song.
AO The Aos observe Moatsü Mong after the sowing is done. It provides the Aos a period of recreation after the strenuous job. The festival marked by vigorous songs and dances merry making and fun is now observed only for three days from 1-3 May. During this festival one of the symbolic celebrations is SANGPANGTU where a big fire is lit and men and women sit around it.
The women serve the best wine and meat they can prepare. Aos have another festival called TSUNGREM MONG celebrated on the eve of harvest. However, nowadays the Aos celebrated this festival from 1 to 3 August. These festivals provide opportunities to the building generation and village stalwart to demonstrate their intellectual skill and physical powers.
The Chakhesang community celebrated seven festivals in year as shown below: SUHKRUHNYE - 15th January, NGUNYE - 1st February, TSAKRONYE - 1st Sunday of March 4, TSUKHANYE / TSUKHENYIE - 6th May, KHUTHONYE - 15th July, TURHINYE - 25th August, THURINYE / KHILUVATU - 1st December. SUHKRUHNYE is the most important festival.
During this festival the boys and girls are sanctified through religious ceremonies and rituals. “SUHKRUHNYE” covers eleven days. TSUKHENYE festival is also an important festival for the Chakhesang. Earlier it was usually celebrated at the end of the 3rd lunar month of March. But now it is being observed on 16th May. TSUKHENYE is a festival which celebrates the culmination of all leisure activities and a festival for welcoming a new fruitful life and year.
The Chang usually observe six major festivals in year, out of which three festival namely Poang Lem, Jeinyu Lem, Kundang Lem were monitored by Haongang Clan. The remaining three festivals Muong Lem, Naknyu Lem, Monyu Lem were monitored by Ung Clan. In this way the tradition was maintained for generations and is followed till date.
All festivals were fixed six days ahead except the KUNDANG LEM and NAKNYU LEM. The Kundang Lem was treated as the youngest and was fixed five days ahead, the Naknyu Lem was treated with much awe and so was fixed just two days ahead. Kundang Lem is observed in the eighth month (April) of the Chang Calendar. This festival is observed for five days. NAKNYU LEM is held on the eleventh month of the Chang Calender which falls during July.
KACHARI
The Kacharis celebrates a number of festivals in a year. Amongst them the most important ones are (a) Bushu or Bushu Jiba which is widely celebrated by the Dimasa kacharis and (b) Baisagn – the spring festival of the Mech (Boro) Kacharis. The Bushu is basically a post harvest festival and usually falls in the month of January every year after the hard earned grains of paddy are harvested, thrashed and stored ion the granaries.
Bushu is of three types :
MIU is held in the first week of May every year. One of the main significances of this festival is to build cordial relations and to forge close-knit relations between the maternal uncle and his sister’s off-springs. It is also a very special occasion of FORGIVE and FORGET. This festival is also known as dividing line between merrymaking season and the start of working season.
From this festival people stop performing folk songs and dance till the next joyous festival called ‘TSOKUM’. TSOKUM is held during the first week of October. It is mainly observed to give thanks to the Almighty Deity for giving good crops and safeguarding lives in the family.
KONYAK
The entire Konyak Community of Nagaland, observe Aoleang Monyu in the first week of Aoleang Lee (April) every year since time immemorial. Aoleang is observed after completion of the new year beginning with spring when a riot of flowers in every hue start to bloom. It is a time to ask Almighty God for bountiful harvest of crops in that very year. The Aoleang Monyu is spread over six days.
Each day has separate name and different significance; Hoi Lai Yah Nyih, Yin Mok Pho Nyih, Yin Mok Shek Nyih, Lingnyu Nyih , Lingha Nyih and Lingshan Nyih.
KUKI
Mimkuut is the harvest festival of the Kukis, Kukis of Nagaland celebrate this festival on the 17th Kuki month of Tolbol (January) every year. The celebration lasts one week. Besides, Mimkuut, Kukis celebrate Chapphou Kuut and Chavang Kuut as well as other smaller festivals. It is believed that Mimkuut and other festivals came into being from the fact that, in order to appease Thilha (demon).
The Tokhu Emong is the harvest festival of the Lothas. Tokhu Emong is celebrated in the 1st week of November every year and it stretches over to 9 days. Earlier, no particular date was fixed. However, in order to carve unity and uniformity among the ranges, Wokha elders decided to celebrate on November 7, every year. The main features of the feast are community songs, dances, feast fun and frolic.
Tokhu Emong is also festival of thanksgiving, sharing and reconciliation but the most beautiful aspect of this festival is that past rancor's are forgiven, new ties are formed and bonds of closer intimacy are formed.
The Phoms have four major festivals each having unique significance. There are MONYU, MOHA, BONGVUM and PAANGMO. Monyu, the most popular and biggest festival falls in the month of April every year soon after the sowing season. The festival is celebrated for six days beginning from 1st to 6th April every year. It also marks the end of winter and the beginning of summer of monsoon.
Monyu is the time to bid farewell to the past year
and herald the dawn of the new year. It is also the time of prayers and
dedication for the sprouting crops that are sowed. Moha is the one day festival
in the month of May to pray for the better growing of seeds/plants. The Bongvum
festival generally falls in the month of October every year after
the major harvest and is observed only for a day.
This festival may be best interpreted as the
festival of Thanksgiving to the unseen Almighty
POCHURY
October is the month of festivity which every Pochury anxiously awaits, ever year to celebrate their greatest festival Yemshe. Yemshe is the festival of welcoming the new harvest and blessings. All the Pochuries, young and old, rich and poor, celebrate the festival with great pomp and gaiety anticipating a good harvest. Yemshe is celebrated on 5th October every year.
The Rengmas celebrate eight days of Ngadah festival
towards the end of November just after harvest. it is the festival of
thanksgiving, merrymaking and rejoicing. This festival also marks the end of the
year. Ritual are performed along with feasting, dancing,
singing to mark the festival.
SANGTAM
The Sangtams have about 12 festivals spreading over the year including some special functions. Except for certain Gennas, all the festivals are concerned with food production, blessings and prosperity. AMONGMONG is one of the most important festivals of the Sangtams. The predominant theme of the festival is the worship of God of the house and the three cooking stones in the fire place.
SUMI
Ahuna is a traditional post harvest festival of the Sumis. Ahuna signifies the celebration of the seasons harvest's in thanksgiving, while evoking the spirits for good fortune in the New Year Tuluni is a festival of great significance. the festival is marked with feast as the occasion occurs in the bountiful season of the year.
Drinking rice beer indispensably forms a part of the fest. This wine is called TULUNI. It is celebrated in mid July every year.
YIMCHUNGER
The Yimchungrüs celebrate Metumniu festival from 4th to 8th August every year. This festival is connected with prayers for the souls of the departed ones. The festival is spread over five days and has separate names for the days, SHITO, ZHIHTO, ZUMTO, KHEHRESUK, SHERESUK. The festival also has strong agricultural base and the agricultural implements are sharpened and worshipped.
Another important festival of the Yimchungrüs is Tsungkamniu, it falls in the month of January and is celebrated from 14th to 16th every year. This festival is observed to signify the year long life and harvest achieved during the year long hard work in the fields.
ZELIANG
The Hega festival is one of the most important festivals among the Zeliang people.It falls in the month of February from 10th to 15th every year. It is a festival invoking the Almighty God to shower his blessings upon his people with richness, luck and courage. It is also a festival of joy, rest and togetherness. The festival lasts for five days. Chega Gadi is another important festival of the Zeliangs.
The genesis of the this festival marks the peoples belief that on this day the Almighty showers blessings and brings good harvest and health. However the date for the celebration differs between villages and communities. The forefathers observed this festival for a duration of 4-5 days. Now it is celebrated for 3-4 days.
Art and Craft of the Nagas
The Nagas have a rich tradition of art and craft
rooted in a lifestyle that has always been harmony with the environment they
live in. Skilled tribal craftsman and artisans have always been the pillars of a
tribal society that had, for many centuries, been self-sufficient. They lent
their skills to creating items of utility as well those with ritualistic and
aesthetic value. To quote Dr. Verrier Elwin; “they have made their own cloth,
their won hats and rain-coats; they have prepared
their own medicines, their own cooking-vessels, their own substitutes for
crockery... “ Skilled craftsmen were employees to carve splendid village gates,
house posts and Morungs in Naga villages. Fine storage baskets, wicker drinking
vessels and containers were woven by craftsmen whose skills had been inherited
from generations of skilled craftsmen.
It was these craftsmen, weavers and artisans who
foraged the forest in search of wood, barks, dyes and other resources that were
utilized to carve out fine works of art and weave colorful clothes that
distinguished each Naga tribe.
The various crafts and art that were known to the
early Nagas and are still carried out to this day are;
2)
Weaving:
Naga women are excellent weavers and the colorful shawls, bags and jackets woven
by them
The art of weaving is still popular amongst the Naga women, especially in the rural areas and the woven products of Nagaland have found its way into the National as well as International marker.
Woodcraft has now been commercialized and craftsmen have been able to use their traditional skills to generate income for themselves. The Diezephe Craft village in Dimapur District is a good example of a cragft concentrated village where the major sourse of income is from woodcraft.
5)
Metal work :
Iron tin and brass were used to produce weapons as well items of utility and
ornaments. The Konyak blacksmiths were famous for their works in the ea
In addition, jewellery and beadwork is also popular
with local craftsmen. Naga festivals are a testimony to the fascination and love
the Naga tribesmen
have for art and craft. The color and beauty of the traditional attires
symbolize the wealth and status of the wearer as well as the skill of the maker.
The abundance of raw material, the splendid environment and the inherent skills
of the people have all played a role in generating a rich history of art and
craft in Nagaland. The resurgence of art and craft in recent times has enable
the traditional craftsman and artisan to earn as he creates.
Places of Interest in Nagaland
The
Capital : Perched at 1444.12 metres above sea level, Kohima enjoys a
temperate climate throughout the year. The two
hour drive from Dimapur to Kohima can be an enjoyable experience. You could
treat yourself to a hot hearty meal of local cuisine from one of the typical
Naga wayside amenities that line the road at regular intervals. The panoramic
view of Kohima unfolds at 16 kms from your destination, nestled among the
pristine hills. Kohima War Cemetery Kohima
War Cemetery offers a space for a quiet moment of a contemplative stroll with
friends & family. This is a symbolic memorial raised as a citation for the
supreme sacrifices made by the officers and men of the allied forces, to halt
the tide of the Japanese onslaught during the Second World War. This was their
last post. The cemetery is beautifully and meticulously maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission. State Museum For the
tourists, there are historical artifacts, log drums, tools & implements, old
Naga currencies, attire of warriors, dresses & costumes all preserved here.
This museum provides a bird's eye view of the fifteen colourful tribes at
close quarters. Dzukou Valley This
valley is tucked away at 2438 metres above sea level. From June to September,
the entire valley is covered with a carpet of wild flowers. Here, you are
completely at peace with nature. The valley is surrounded by hills, natural
caves & rocks ideal for camping. Japfu Peak Scaling
the Japfu peak at 3048 metres above sea level can be very trying, but
exhilarating. Once up, the expansive vista of nature's beauty more than
compensates the effort put in. The range gets covered by mist at the break of
dawn, adding to its mystic beauty. Khonoma This
place offers a peep into the village lifestyle of the people here. This
village is not only laced in history but also known for its ecological
propriety. The terraced fields carved out from the hill top to the lower
valley, present an interesting study. You can always hear fascinating stories
of folklore here from the villagers. Kohima Village
Considered to be one of the largest in Asia, a traditional gate greets the
visitor.There are stones of varying shapes and sizes implanted within the
compound or skulls of buffaloes and mithuns adorning the portico, reminding
you of the past glory and status of the great ancestors. Zoological Park This
place offers you a glimpse of the fauna of Nagaland. The rare Blythe's
Tragopan believed to be on the verge of extinction, is being reared here in
captivity. Rare species of Orchids can also be seen here. Dzulekie This is
an enchanting place near Kohima, where domesticated bisons roam freely in
pastoral ambience. The surrounding green hills and little waterfalls thrown
in, add to the pleasure to being in this cool getaway.
On the
way to Kohima, this site was the first headquarter, established by the
British. The Triple Falls located in Seithekima village area, is another
resort being developed by the Department of Tourism. As the name suggests, it
is a three-tier waterfall, cascading from a height of 280 feet into an
inviting natural pool. Intanki Wildlife Sanctuary Intanki
Wildlife Sanctuary is just 37 kms away from Dimapur. It is the habitat of
various animals and rare species of birds. Ruzaphema It is a
place, ideally suited for leisure and recreation with its colourful bazaars
and a wide range of tribal handicrafts, which are exquisite in their style.
Fakim Sanctuary This
sanctuary, close to the Myanmar border is inhabited by tigers & Hoolock
gibbons and recieves high rainfall. Pulie Bazde Another sanctuary, Pulie Bazde lies in close proximity of Kohima.
Districts of Nagaland
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Nagaland
is rich in flora and fauna. About one-sixth of Nagaland
is under
the cover of tropical and sub-tropical
evergreen forests - including palms, bamboo
and rattan as well as timber and mahogany
forests. While some forest areas have been cleared for jhum - cultivation - many
scrub forests, high grass, reeds and secondary dogs, pangolins,
porcupines, elephants, leopards, bears, many species of monkeys, sambar, deers,
oxen and buffaloes thrive across the state's forests. The Great Indian Hornbill
is one of the most famous birds found in the state.
hiamniungan,
Konyak, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sumi, Sangtam,
Yimchungru, Tangkhul, Zeliang of which the Angamis, Aos, Lothas and Sumis are
the largest Naga tribes. Tribe and Clan
traditions and loyalties plays an important part in the life of Nagas. Weaving
is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the
major tribes has its own unique designs and colors, producing shawls, shoulder
bags, decorative spears, table mats, wood carvings and bamboo works. Tribal
dances of the Nagas give an insight into the inborn reticence of the people. War
dances and dances belonging to distinctive
tribes are a major art form in Nagaland. Some
of these are Moatsu, Sekrenyi, Tuluni and Tokhu Emong. More than 80% of the
people live in rural areas. Nagas speak 60 different dialects belonging to the
Sino-Tibetan family of languages. Nagamese, a variant language form of Assamese
and local dialects is the most widely spoken market language. One interesting
part is every tribe has their own mother tongue language and these tribes
communicate with each other in Nagamese. As such Nagamese is not a mother tongue
of any of the tribes and nor is it a written language. English, the official
state language is widely spoken in official circles and is the medium for
education in Nagaland.
ANGAMI
CHAKHESANG
CHANG
KHIAMNIUNGAM
LOTHA
PHOM
God. Paangmo is another important event of the Phoms. It is celebrated in the
month of November which stretches over three days.
RENGMA
The
festival is observed in the first week of September every year. AMONGMONG
festival means togetherness and stretches for
six days. The object is to have a good harvest. 
Kohima
Dimapur
