Traditional Festival Tours of Northeast India

  Reh is one of the most important festivals of the Idu Mishmis of east-central Arunachal Pradesh. The Idus believe that they are the sons and daughters of the divine mother 'Nanyi Inyitaya'. But none can get her blessings and keep alive the bond of brotherhood and social feeling strong, unless one performs the Reh festival. The festival requires a number of sacrificial buffaloes for offering to the great mother. The preparation of rice beer in large scale locally called 'Yunyiphri' is under taken, three to four months before the actual celebration. The guests are entertained with rice, meat and rice beer. The 'Naya' dance is held during the festival. 

  The Boori Boot festival is performed by the Hill-Miris. They live in the central part of Arunachal Pradesh. The festival falls between 4 and 6 February. Boori Boot means to get together to hail the spring and successful harvest. The festival also invokes the spirit of Boori Boot to bless them with prosperity and free from diseases of any kind. The festival is performed collectively. The young members do all the work under the elders’ guidance. The Nibu (priest) performs rituals as well as conduct sacrifice. 

The festival of Sekrenyi is celebrated in the month of February by the Angamis of Nagaland. This is actually a 10 day festival which goes on in the households of the Angamis, but the most important days are celebrated openly with community feasts, dancing and singing traditional songs. Purification of body and soul is the underlying theme of the festival.

For major part of the festival the people of the village sit together and sing traditional songs. Jugs of rice beer and plates of meat are placed before participants. Traditional games are also performed. Until the close of the festival, no one goes to the fields. 

  Apatanis of Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh celebrate the Myoko festival in March every year. They attach importance to this festival as they have this age-old belief that by performing the rituals they can ensure fertility, both in the fields and in its people. Another aspect is the firm conviction that they can promote and strengthen family, clan and inter-village ties. 

Sacrifice of livestock like pigs and chicken form a major part of the festival as also the rituals performed by the village Shaman or priest. There is dancing and merry making by the village folk, taking out processions in their traditional dresses are some of the features of the festival. 

  The Konyak Nagas celebrate the arrival of spring with their festival, Aoling. This festival stretches for six days and is held in the first week of April. This is also the Konyak New Year. During Aoling the Konyaks perform different rituals like animal sacrifices, agriculture related activities, dancing and feasting and also one day is kept for cleaning the houses and the village.

The Adi Gallongs of Arunachal Pradesh celebrate Mopin festival in April. Mopin is thought to bring wealth and prosperity to the households as well as to the village. It is also believed to drive away the evil shadow and to receive the blessing of God for universal happiness. The Adi Gallong villages come alive with the amazing 'Popir' dance. The villagers smear rice powder on each other’s face and rituals being performed can be witnessed.