4th Quarterly Research Progress Report

This document summarizes the proposed process for conducting

Research during the period (1st February,2016 ) through (31th July,

2016) under the Government of India, Ministry of Culture, New

Delhi-110115.

Topic : Folk Fusion to Greater heights

Name : DIEZEVITSO CHASIE

File No. : F.3-151/2014-S and F

Field : Junior Fellowship for 2012-13, Folk Music

(Folk/Traditional and Indigenous Arts)

Address: T. Khel Khonoma Village, Lower

Email : atsochasie@yahoo.com

Contact No: +91 9774 154925

Festivals of Nagaland
1.INTRODUCTION

Research and survey is conducted on nine major tribes of Nagaland,

choosing the most important festival of the particular tribe with
songs and dances associated with the particular festival of the tribe.

A festival is a special occasion of feasting or celebration which is

normally associated with religious practices. Nagas are admired for
their rich repertory of folk dances and songs. In spite of the
tremendous advance of modernity into their lives, the Naga people
have a penchant for vibrant dances accompanied with songs and
colourful costumes.

Festivals of many types serve to meet specific needs, as well as to

provide entertainment amongst different communities with varied
nature and practice. These times of celebration offer a sense of
belongingness for religious, social, or geographical groups. Modern
festivals that focus on cultural ethnic topics seek to inform members
of their traditions. In the past festivals are the times when the elderly
persons shared stories and transferred certain knowledge to the next
generation.

Seventeen tribes having its own respective festival that revolve

around the agricultural cycle inhabit Nagaland, ‘A land of festivals.’
Many of this festivals are connected to spring, sowing seeds, first
crop, harvest, physical and spiritual sanctification. Nine tribes were
selected:- Angami tribe, Ao Tribe, Phom tribe, Lotha Tribe,
Khiamniugan tribe, Konyak tribe, Chang Tribe, Chakhesang tribe,
Sumi tribe and Zeliang tribe.

In every Naga festivals, one will find large cultural troops, display of
the most costly traditional attires and ornaments. traditional musical
 instruments are played with sweetest tune bringing the past glory
and honour through songs and dances. Various traditional games are
also displayed during the occasion.

II.Objectives of the study

Culture and traditions are the doorways to every community.

Likewise, hard work, truthfulness, loyalty, bravery, honour were the
trademark values of the Naga forefathers and these are the values
that cut across cultures and centuries. With every festivals celebrated
each year, the traditional values are losing its depth rather festivals
are celebrated in a more modern style and feasting alone. Songs and
dances are not given much importance, where the younger generation
is ignorant, on the other hand western education system is
encouraged thus, paving way to lose the beautiful dances and
traditional identity of our own. Every effort must be made towards
bringing positive behavioural changes in the society, by nurturing,
inheriting and honouring the age old value systems, culture and
traditions which seems to be fast eroding, with the one set of
modernisation and globalisation threatening the identity of the Nagas.
The main object of this study focuses on the Naga Tribal Festivals
associated with dances covering the seventeen tribes of Nagaland.

Every Naga tribe has its own festivals and dances celebrated through
out the year. However all festivals are associated with songs and
dances, yet no common dance or song has been developed that could
represent the whole of Nagaland. Therefore this research covers and
documents the various festivals celebrated by all the Naga tribes and
presents the importance and need of a common song or dance that
can represent the whole of Nagaland.
 III.Ten major tribes of Nagaland
III.a. Sekreni festival of the Angami tribe
Sekrenyi is the biggest and common festival of the Angami tribe.
This celebration falls in the month of February. The festival is
characterized Mainly by merry making, displaying, showing of dresses,
games and ornaments, tools and weapons, songs and dances. The
main purpose of this festival is attributed to purification of the body,
hence apart from merry making; the people have to adhere to some
strict rules and rituals. Though this festival involves each and every
member of the village, the purification process and rituals are mostly
done by the men folks.

The Angami tribe during the festival of Sekrenyi and Thekra- Hie.
Thekra- Hie is the best part of the festival where the young people of
the village sit together and sing traditional songs throughout the day.
Jugs of rice beer and plates of meat are placed before the participants.
On the seventh day the young man go for hunting. The most
important festival falls on the eight day when the bridge-pulling or
gate- pulling is performed or inter village visits are exchanged. Until
the close of the festival, no one goes to the fields and field work cease
during this season of feasting and celebration. The young unmarried
girls with closely shaven heads sit down with the bronzed youth
singing tunes of bygones ages, recreating a past where no care
touched the human soul.

III.b. Moatsii Festival of the Ao Tribe

This is the main festival of the Aos , which is celebrated in the spring
season, normally observed just after the completion of sowing seeds
in fields. It invokes blessings upon new grains in the field and also
protection of new crops from all sorts of pest throughout the season.
It falls in the first week of may every year. Before the celebration of
Moatsii, seeds of all kinds are sown in the field. Then, the farmers wait
for the healthy germination and growth of all seeds sown, that may
result plentiful harvest. For that purpose, it depends on the mercy of
Lijaba, believed to be the creator of earth who holds the blessing of
soil and the fruits. For this reason, the festival of invoking blessing is
essentially required.

Moatsii festival is normally observed in the open field or street. It is

characterised by dance with colourful traditional dresses ,singing,
drinking local brew, tug – of- war and other activities where both men
and women participate. The festival is observed for six days and on
the forth day, the priest shall ask for blessings and prosperity. The
festival is a real occasion of joy and pleasure, which there is no much
taboos, genas, and ethical restriction.

Ao Naga tribe demonstrates an item where young boys and girls in olden days
gathered at their respective house (morung) and discuss, sing and share their
feeling for each other. This item was displayed during Hornbill Festival, Kisama -
Nagaland.2015

It is also a time where the young folks has the opportunity to learn
new songs and dances. It is said that amongst the Nagas, the Aos have
given up traditional beliefs and practices including the observances of
festivals much earlier than other tribes because of Christianity.

The sixth day is the tentini, the main day, where the youngest age
group collect shiziingzii sword bean rope a day ahead of the Moatsii
festival. On the last day tug of war is played between men and
women, where men take the stem and women the branches. In the
process songs were sung in glee, dances and all traditional games
were displayed .Erecting of Moatsii pillar is one of the important part
of the festival where climbing competitions were held. It is not
ordinarily planted anywhere but at a selected place, believed to be
pure. Generally the youngest pier group arranges the pillar well before
hand near the village salang. Only the healthy grown bamboo were
selected and brought to the village and then planted facing the
sunrise, polished with pig fats. The pillars signifies the tree of victory,
mangko dong, the tree where human heads are kept hanging.

All age groups takes part in the climbing competition where the
boys have the opportunity to impress the women folks.

III.c. Tsukhenyie Festival of the Chakhesang tribe

The four day Tsukhenyie festival is one of the important festival of
the chakhesang tribe, observed during the month of 6th May. A new
year of activities begins with the arrival of spring. All sports and games
and other youth activities which began after the harvest ceases with
the closing of this festival. All male folks would gather at the
designated well on the early morning of the first day of the festival
and purify themselves by bathing. In this bathing ceremony only new
gourd dippers were used. After the bath is performed they invoke the
Almighty for strength, long life, good harvest, and other blessings.
During this festival only the best of the male domestic animals is
slaughtered for feasting .Games and sports, music and dances were a
part

Chakhesang men presenting a song at Hornbill festival, 2014.

Tetseo sisters dressed up in Chakhesang traditional attire

of the festival. During this festival, the married women goes to their
parents’ house and prepare the best food for their husbands. By the
end of the festival all the attires of games and musical instruments
were put to an end until the next season. This is followed by sowing of
paddy and planting of new seeds.

III.d. Naknyu Lum festival of the Chang Tribe

The Chang tribe usually celebrates the
most number of festivals amongst the
Naga tribes. Naknyu Lum is observed
during the eleventh month of Chang
calendar which falls during July. According
to their traditional belief,the entire world
was enveloped with total darkness,all
night through out. The darkness was so
thick that no general work could be done
and people were forced to remain at their
homes for six days. By then supplies for
burning and needs were all over, even
horns of animals were burnt to keep the
kitchen alive. As the seventh day
approaches, the people with great joy
welcome the occasion and pray thank
giving to the God and held Naknyulum.

The second day, which is the dark-moon-

day is called ‘youjem’. On this day all the
activities are withheld. No one is allowed to go to the fields or do
household chores, like drawing water, cutting fire-wood etc. It is
strictly observed. However it is a time of fun and joy, food items and
exchanged of gifts were observed. Games like, tug of war, high jump,
long jump, climbing of oiled pole etc were .Women play on Kongkhin
They too compete with this instrument, Men and women, young and
old ,all engaged themselves in feasting and merry making the whole
day but no dancing is performed.

III.e. Aoleang Monyu Festival of the Konyak tribe

The most important festival of the Konyak tribe is the Monyu
festival lasting for six days in the month of April. This festival marks
the end of chilly winter and heralds the dawn of the lovely spring with
the flowers blooming adding and paving way for a positive
environment. It is a festival of relaxation and exuberance after
plantation of field work. Songs and feasts are indispensible part of this
festival. However it is also a time for invoking blessing for a good
harvest over all the plantations. Each day of the festival are named
differently:

(1)Hou Lai Yah

(2)Yin Mok Pho Nyiih

(3) Lingnyu Nyih

(4) Lingha Nyih and

(5) Lingshan Nyih.

The first day is called “Hoi Lai Yah”. All the arrangement for the festival
is done on this day. Items necessary for the occasion like, fire wood,
vegetables, rice-beer, new cloths and all ornaments are prepared. The
head of the family offers a sacrifice at the field with a chicken.A
dancing stage called “Aoleang Wakam” is constructed in every Morung
for dancing performances.
 Konyak women and Men in traditional attire

The second day is called “Yin Mok Pho Nyih” , where domestic animals
are hunted from the jungles and brought it to the village. Young boys
are also encouraged to join the hunting and on their return from the
hunt ,young boys and girls are tattooed the next day.

The third day , all the arranged animals are killed ,which is called “Yin
Mok Shek Nyih”. It is on this day that feasting on meat begin. A well
decorated bamboo flag known as “Koip Hong” is hoisted , playing of
log drums .All the men gathered at the Morung will have the best
meat and rice-beer.

The forth day is the most awaited time of the festival called “Lingnyu
Nyih”, where everyone is dressed with the finest traditional attire and
spends the whole day in celebration, feasting, dances, songs are items
presented. On this day the younger boys were also shown and taught
the art of head hunting .On the return from the place called “pejing”
which means ‘entrance gate of the village’ ,the men starts dancing in
different Morung , it is an opportunity to utter out positive and
negative thoughts and attitudes about each other through songs.

The fifth day is called “Lingha Nyih”. This day is observed by honouring
each other; family feasting is celebrated religiously where married
sisters are welcome to the home and offer them the best feast by
their parents. New household friendship is also declared.

The six day marks the end of the festival. It is a day for cleaning the
village and houses.

III.f. Miu festival of the Khiamniugan tribe

This festival is held in the first week of May every year with two
very significant values of the Khiamnnungam tribe. One of the main
significance of this festival is to buildcordial relations and to forge
close-knit relations between the maternal uncle and his sisters
offsprings i.e. , nephews and nieces. The maternal uncle offers a
prayer invoking blessings to all his nephews and nieces. It is also a
time to forgive and forget, settle disputes in the most positive way.
The festival also marks the seeding season. Besides the cultural rituals,
songs and dances are performed, where the village is filled with
celebration. It is the dividing line between merry making season and
the beginning of plantation. All the performance of songs and dances
are kept aside till the next joyous season called ‘Tsokum’ festival.

Khiamnnungam tribe presenting , sowing dance .

Khiamnnungam tribe presenting , war dance

The Tsokum festival is held usually in the month of October, that is
when the plantations are ready to be harvested. Social works are also
held during this dry season. One of the main significance of this
festival is to grand permission of right to harvest and test the new
crops. It is also during this season that each warrior of the village is at
liberty to display his hunted trophies.

III.g.Tokhii Emong festival of the Lotha Tribe

A common feast celebrated in any manner, or occasion is called
Tokhii Emong. The Lotha tribe celebrates a number of festivals where
Tokhu Emong is the major festival observed at the end of the
agricultural year following the harvest .It is a festival of thanks giving
to God for a good harvest and blessing throughout the year. The spirit
of Tokhu Emong is one of forgiveness, reconciliation friendship and
harmonious joy. It is the time when departed soul of near and dear
ones are finally bade goodbyes with elaborate ritual at the graveside.
With the harvest over and granaries full, the people settle down to
enjoy the fruits of their hard labour .In other words, it is called Vami
Tokhii , by the general people which means a leisurely feast.
Lotha Tribe in traditional attire
The festival is spread over 9 days, each day having a significance of its
own with specific rituals to be observed. In the past different villages
celebrates Tokhii festival at their own conveniences, depending on the
harvest gathered by every household. However ,in order to forge unity
and its uniformity ,an assembly of Lotha elders at Wokha decided to
have a common day of celebration in all villages. Following this,Tokhii
Emong or Vami Tokhii, is now celebrated on November 7, every year.

The entire village is involved in preparation and celebration of the

festival. During this period the village gates are renovated ,wells are
cleaned and purified, roads are cleaned and houses are decorated,
displaying proudly their prices and achievements. The last day of the
festival is marked by colourful dances ,folk songs, folklores, fun and
frolic and feasting.The elderly men are best seen and heard at this
time when they heartily compete in folklores and tales in melodiously
poetical recitations.This Tokhu is also called ‘Loroe Tokhii’, meaning,
Festival of Damsels , quite similar to that of Assamese Rongali Bihu, in
that , the boys and girls engaged during the year, are now free to get
married hare after.

III.h. Monyiu festival of the Phom tribe

Monyiu is the most popular festival of the Phom tribe of
Nagaland, lasting for six days. It is observed during the month of April.
Phoms are surrounded by three major tribes of Nagaland i.e Konyak,
Chang and Ao tribe. During Monyiu festival inviting neighbouring
villages and tribes is also a major part of the festival.

The main feature of the Monyiu festival is the occasion when the male
members of the family show love and renew their affectionate
feelings towards their married daughter or sister by presentation them
the purest rice and specially prepared food. Such conduct reflects the

An elderly man dressed with Phom Traditional attire

 general status of the Phom women . Planning and discussion relating
to community welfare to be implemented through out the year are
also decided during such festival.

The six days long festival fellows a circle of rituals and activities
briefly described below:-

Shongten-Laiphen is known as the first day of the festival. All

major preparations are done the first day.4

The second day is for compulsory brewing of rice beer, choosing

of animals for the festival.

The third day is observed by different age groups.

The forth day is called Chinge Okshok, the entire village or tribe
together observed Monyiu festival.

The most colourful day is on the fifth day of the festival. Every
one is well dressed and tidy. Traditional costumes are well displayed
on this day

The sixth day is another remarkable day. Exchanging a bamboo-mug

of pure rice brew amongst the elderly people is observed. The young
boys and girls stroll out in the outskirt of the village and go dating.

III.i.Tuluni Festival of the Sumi tribe

The Siimis celebrate many festivals, which have been carried down
from generations, most festivals usually marks the beginning of new
seasons, harvesting of new crops or victory at war. They celebrate
their festivals with much pageantry , music ,songs, feast and with
great glee and elation. Different songs were sung which are handed
down orally.
Tuluni is the most important festival of the Sumi tribe. Every year in
the second week of july Tuluni festival is observed. Drinking of rice
beer indispensably forms as part of the feasts. Rise beer is served in a
goblet made of bamboo or leaf of plantain. This drink is called Tuluni
which gives the festival its name. Slaughtering of pigs , cows and
mithun is an important feature of this festival, thereby this festival is
associated with meat eating. During this festival the betrothed
exchange basketful of gifts with meals. The fiancé is invited to a
grand dinner at the fiancée’s residence. Even siblings of both the
families exchange special cooking’s of food and meat.

Sumi Tribe in Traditional attire.

The practice of working in groups is common for Sumi agricultural
farmers, and Tuluni is a special time for them because they get to rest
and celebrate the completion of farming .For this festival different
farmers group also slaughter pigs and cow with equal share. The
betrothed are settled at this period. The fervours of feast are
synchronized with a chain of folk songs and ballads.In modern times
,friends and members from other tribes and communities are invited
to attend the feast and are entertained with songs and dances.

III.j. Langsimnyi festival of the Zeliang tribe

Langsimnyi festival is the most popular festival of the Zeliang tribe.
It is celebrated during the last part of October . Langsimnyi is a festival
for rekindling relationship between parents and their married
daughters, between brothers and sisters who are married and with
families of their own. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and
gaiety. The best foods were exchanged during this season as an
expression of love between family members.

In some villages the second day is observed by gathering in packs of

different age groups, both young and old, for get-together or picnic
known as halla’. Most notable is the gathering of hemeupuime’ or
brides-to- be, for the last time before they each become a women. On
this day women folk can enjoy the company of their own friends as
the men folk are left behind to attend to the household chores for the
day.

In the event that death had occurred in a household that year, or any
domestic animal had given birth the previous night , all members of
such households are debarred not only from taking part in the
competition but also from mingling with others during such festivities
and competitions. In most of the villages, it is considered that the day

Zeliang tribe presenting a dance

belong to the men and young boys. In order to prepare for the games
and sports during this festival,men and young boys gather in groups of
Khel or clans and take turns to feed the members, giving out the best
they could afford,so that fresh meat or good food is available for some
time and also to give equal opportunity to all to eat and to practice
etc.
IV.Conclussion:-
The Nagas celebrate festivals through-out the year. All the Naga tribes
and villages having its own festivals and celebration at different times
of the year, live participation to all the festivals was not possible. With
the coming of Christianity the active celebration of festivals was not to
the highest forte f almost all the Nagas . Though people still observe
the festivals or remembers the time of festivals, major participation
and strict rituals are all forgotten or fully practiced . Folk songs and
dances are rarely presented. Generally festivals are now celebrated
feasting and fun alone.

The Hornbill festival of Nagaland promotes and present an

opportunity for all Naga tribes to showcase the culture, rituals,
dances and songs, with an aim to preserve the rich cultural traditions.
Though the promotion and revival of cultural arts have been
promoted and encouraged, not many people is benefitted or educated
to the Nagas as a whole. The true sense of cultural traditions have
been overrun and many have been composed, it has becomes a rare
display to the foreign tourist alone.

All the festivals celebrated by the Nagas are associated with feasting,
dancing, singing and traditional games, but not much have been
encouraged practically to promote cultural dances. Dancing is natural
to the Naga tribes. it is full of vigour and vitality. It is difficult to
generalise but roughly it could be said that the artist first slowly enters
the arena or stage, form a circle and gradually speed up the tempo
with the stamping of feet , interspersed with clapping and chanting or
singing. The spear , dao or other traditional usages are swung to the
rhythm of the dance, depending on the different types of dances.
Table of contents:-
I. Introduction
II. Objective of the study
III. Ten Major tribes of Nagaland
III.a. Sekreni festival of the Angami tribe
III.b. Moatsii Festival of the Ao Tribe
III.c. Tsukhenyie Festival of the Chakhesang tribe
III.d. Naknyu Lum festival of the Chang Tribe
III.e. Aoleang Monyu Festival of the Konyak tribe
III.f. Miu festival of the Khiamniugan tribe
III.g. Tokhii Emong festival of the Lotha Tribe
III.h. Monyiu festival of the Phom tribe
III.i. Tuluni Festival of the Sumi tribe
III.j. Langsimnyi festival of the Zeliang tribe

IV. Conclussion