Start Planning Your Journey to the North Eastern States of India
Introduction
When we think of festivals in Northeast India, Bihu of Assam often takes center stage. However, the rest of the northeastern states—each with their distinct tribes, traditions, and spiritual practices—offer a breathtaking array of vibrant celebrations that are equally captivating. From the warrior dances of Nagaland to the Buddhist rituals of Sikkim, this post explores the diverse and lesser-known festivals that breathe life into the cultural heart of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and beyond.
The northeastern states of India—Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim—are vibrant with unique tribal and cultural festivals, reflecting the region’s deep-rooted traditions, spirituality, and harmony with nature. Here’s a curated list of notable festivals from each state (excluding Assam):
🌸 Arunachal Pradesh
Losar (Monpa tribe)
Losar marks the Tibetan New Year and is predominantly celebrated by the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It usually falls in February or March and begins with rituals to dispel negative energies and welcome prosperity. Monasteries are decorated with prayer flags, butter lamps are lit, and traditional Cham dances are performed. People wear new clothes, visit relatives, and prepare delicacies like khapse (fried pastries).
Solung (Adi tribe)
Solung is an agricultural festival of the Adi tribe, celebrated after sowing is done, to pray for a bumper harvest. It spans several days and includes rituals like animal sacrifice, mythological recitations, and community feasts. The villagers also engage in traditional war dances and songs that narrate their folklore. It reflects the tribe’s deep connection with agriculture, spirits, and communal living.
Mopin (Galo tribe)
Mopin is celebrated by the Galo tribe to seek prosperity and ward off evil spirits. Held in April, it features rituals such as the smearing of rice powder on faces, which symbolizes purity and blessings. The highlight of the festival is the Popir dance performed by women dressed in white, along with the consumption of apong (rice beer). Mopin unites the entire community in joy, music, and prayer.
Nyokum (Nyishi tribe)
Nyokum is a spiritual festival of the Nyishi tribe, observed to invoke the benevolence of nature deities for harmony and abundance. Celebrated in February, it involves the setting up of a sacred altar (Yugang) where priests (Nyubh) perform rituals and sacrifices. Men and women gather in traditional attire, sing folk songs, and dance in circles. The festival is a reflection of the tribe’s animistic beliefs and their reverence for natural forces.
🌼 Manipur
Yaoshang
Yaoshang is Manipur’s version of Holi, celebrated over five days starting from the full moon of Lamta (February–March). What makes it unique are the cultural and sports activities organized by local clubs, which engage the youth and promote community bonding. Children go door-to-door for donations (nakatheng), and vibrant celebrations with color follow. Traditional Thabal Chongba (a kind of moonlight dance) is a major attraction during this festival.
Lai Haraoba
Lai Haraoba, meaning “merry-making of the gods,” is an ancient festival of the Meitei community that celebrates the creation stories and deities. It involves intricate rituals, dances, and music performed by Maibis (priestesses) that reenact cosmological myths. Held over several days, the festival is a blend of spirituality, performance, and cultural preservation. It highlights the sacred relationship between humans and the divine.
Ningol Chakouba
This family-oriented festival strengthens the bond between married daughters and their parental families. Celebrated with great warmth, daughters are invited to their parental homes and treated to a lavish feast. Gifts are exchanged, and blessings are bestowed in a joyful gathering. It emphasizes the love and respect for women and the familial values held dear in Manipuri culture.
Cheiraoba
Cheiraoba marks the Manipuri New Year and is celebrated in April with much devotion and festivity. People clean their homes, offer prayers to household deities, and prepare traditional dishes. A popular custom involves climbing nearby hills as a symbol of rising to greater heights in the coming year. It is a day of renewal, reflection, and hope for prosperity.
🌧️ Meghalaya
Wangala Festival (Garo tribe)
Wangala, also known as the “Hundred Drums Festival,” is a post-harvest thanksgiving festival of the Garo tribe. It is dedicated to the Sun god, Misi Saljong, who is believed to bring in the harvest. The festival includes rhythmic beating of traditional drums, blowing of buffalo horns, and group dances in colorful costumes. It’s not only a religious event but also a vibrant cultural showcase of the Garo heritage.
Shad Suk Mynsiem (Khasi tribe)
This spring festival of the Khasi tribe is celebrated to thank the divine for a fruitful harvest and to pray for future prosperity. Men and women dress in traditional finery and perform slow, graceful dances to the rhythm of drums and flutes in an open arena. The festival reflects Khasi matrilineal values and emphasizes dignity, purity, and peace. It is a serene yet spectacular expression of cultural pride and spirituality.
Behdienkhlam (Jaintia tribe)
Celebrated by the Pnar people of the Jaintia tribe, Behdienkhlam is a unique festival meant to drive away plague, famine, and misfortune. Participants carry beautifully decorated wooden structures (rots) and wade into muddy waters as a symbolic gesture of cleansing. The rituals are intense, and a football-like game called Dad-lawakor is played using a wooden ball. It is a festival of spiritual warfare, community effort, and rejuvenation.
🌻 Mizoram
Chapchar Kut
Chapchar Kut is the most popular festival of Mizoram, celebrated after the completion of jhum (shifting) cultivation’s clearing phase. It is a spring festival of joy and relief, marked by traditional dances like Cheraw (bamboo dance), music, and feasts. People wear colorful traditional attire and gather for community celebrations. It highlights the close link between agricultural cycles and Mizo cultural life.
Mim Kut
Mim Kut is celebrated after the maize harvest and has spiritual overtones, as it is also meant to remember departed souls. People offer fresh maize, vegetables, and rice beer to the spirits of their ancestors. Songs, dances, and community gatherings are part of the celebration, blending joy with solemn remembrance. It is an example of how agrarian life and ancestral reverence coexist in tribal festivals.
Pawl Kut
Pawl Kut is another harvest festival, specifically for rice, and is one of the oldest festivals of the Mizo people. It was originally introduced as a way to thank the Almighty for a good harvest. Families prepare traditional meals and participate in community feasting and cultural programs. The festival is centered on gratitude, togetherness, and the abundance of nature.
🥁 Nagaland
Hornbill Festival
Held in December at the Kisama Heritage Village near Kohima, the Hornbill Festival is a grand cultural convergence of all 16 Naga tribes. It showcases tribal dances, music, craft exhibitions, food fairs, and indigenous sports like wrestling and archery. Named after the revered bird in Naga folklore, it promotes inter-tribal interaction and cultural preservation. Tourists from around the world attend this colorful and inclusive event.
Moatsu Mong (Ao tribe)
Moatsu Mong is a post-sowing festival of the Ao tribe, celebrated in May with folk songs, dances, and merrymaking. It marks the completion of seed sowing and allows villagers to rest and socialize. Competitions, drinking of rice beer, and traditional rituals are part of the festivities. It is a time of joy, hospitality, and celebration of community effort.
Sekrenyi (Angami tribe)
Sekrenyi is a purification festival of the Angami Nagas, celebrated to cleanse the body and spirit before the new agricultural season. The rituals begin with a ceremonial bath, followed by feasting, singing, and dancing. Young men undergo rites of passage during this period, making it a culturally significant event. It reinforces social bonds and the values of discipline and purity.
🌿 Tripura
Garia Puja
Garia Puja is a tribal festival held in April to worship the deity Garia, who is believed to bless people with livestock, children, and prosperity. A bamboo pole representing the deity is set up and worshipped with rice beer, chicken, and flowers. Traditional dances and songs follow the rituals, and children go from house to house asking for blessings. It reflects the agrarian lifestyle and spiritual beliefs of the tribal people.
Ker Puja
Ker Puja is an ancient royal festival of Tripura, traditionally performed to protect the state and its people from calamities. During the festival, certain areas are isolated, and no one is allowed to enter or leave the designated boundary for two to three days. Rituals are performed to invoke the deity Ker for safeguarding the land. The festival is known for its discipline, restrictions, and spiritual intensity.
Kharchi Puja
Kharchi Puja is a week-long festival held in Agartala to worship the 14 deities of the Tripuri royal dynasty. It blends tribal and Hindu customs and involves rituals like animal sacrifices, floral offerings, and processions. The deities are taken to the river for purification and then brought back for worship. It attracts thousands of devotees and tourists and is a significant cultural highlight of Tripura.
🏔️ Sikkim
Losar
Losar is the Tibetan New Year and one of the most significant festivals for the Bhutia community in Sikkim. Celebrated with prayers, offerings, and symbolic rituals, it begins with house cleaning to dispel negativity. Monasteries hold special ceremonies and Cham mask dances, and people visit each other with greetings of “Tashi Delek.” It’s a vibrant and spiritual start to the new year.
Saga Dawa
Saga Dawa is a sacred Buddhist festival that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death (Mahaparinirvana) of Lord Buddha. Devotees offer butter lamps, chant scriptures, and take part in long processions with monks carrying holy texts. Acts of charity and vegetarianism are encouraged during this time. It is a deeply spiritual festival fostering mindfulness and compassion.
Pang Lhabsol
Pang Lhabsol is unique to Sikkim and venerates Mount Kanchenjunga, considered the guardian deity of the state. It commemorates the oath of brotherhood between the Lepchas and Bhutias, symbolizing unity and harmony. The festival features the vibrant warrior dance “Chaam,” performed by monks in elaborate costumes. It blends history, mythology, and patriotism.
Dasain/Tihar
These are major Hindu festivals celebrated mainly by the Nepali-speaking population in Sikkim. Dasain is marked by tika blessings from elders and animal sacrifices, while Tihar (similar to Diwali) honors animals like crows, dogs, cows, and even brothers. Homes are lit up with lamps, and people play Deusi-Bhailo, a form of caroling. These festivals showcase Sikkim’s multi-ethnic harmony.