Manipuri Festival
Manipur is a land of festivities, merriments and mirths all the year round. A year in Manipur Presents a cycle of festivals. Hardly a month passes without a festival or two. To the manipuris, festivals are the symbols of their cultural, social and religious aspirations which, besides removing the monotony of life by providing physical diversions, mental recreation and emotional outlet, help them lead a better and fuller life.
KUT - the festival of Kuki-Chin-Mizo
It is an autumn festival of the different tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups of Manipur. The festival has been variously described at different places amongst different tribes as Chavang-Kut or Khodou etc. It is a happy occasion for the villagers whose food stock is boundiful after a year of hard labour. The festival is a thanks giving featsts with songs and dances in merriment and joviality for all, in honour of the giver of an abundant harvest, it is observed on the 1st of November every year.
Chumpha -festival of Tangkhul Nagas
Celebrated for seven days in the month of December, the Chumpha festival is a great festival of the Tanghul Nagas. The festival is held after harvest. The last three days are devoted to social gatherings and rejoicing. Unlike other festivals women play a special role in the festival. The concluding part of the festival ends with a provession within the village.
Kang - The RathaJatra
One of the greatest festivals of the Hindus of Manipur, the festival is celebrated for ten days(July). Lord Jagannath leaves his temple in a car known as 'Kang' in Manipur pulled by pilgrims who vie with one another for this honour.
Ningol Chakouba
It is a remarkable social festival of the Meiteis. Married women of the family who were married to distant places come to the parental house along with her children and enjoy sumptuous feast. It is a form of family rejoinder to revive familial affection. The festival is also observed by the Pangals (Manipuri Muslims) to a certain extent now-a-days. It is observed on the second day of the new moon in the Manipuri month of Hiyangei(November).
Nagaland Festival
The festivals are mostly related to agricultural operations. The important thing about the Naga festivals is their corporate character. The community as a whole participates in the celebrations. There is a definite programme stretching over a specified period in which all the village folk join.
Moatsu
Among the Aos, the most important festival is Moatsu, which is celebrated after the sowing is over. The festival last six days. On the first night of the festival sexual intercourse was forbidden. Every man was required to wear a new belt, for hanging his dao. The unmarried men received belts as presents from their girl friends, the married men got from their wives. During this occasion, the restriction relating to dress and ornaments were relaxed. People could wear even the forbidden ones according to their will.
Mijoram Festivals
Mizos are agriculturists. They practise what is known as Jhum Cultivation. They slash down and cultivate the land. All their other activities revolve around the jhum operations and their festivals are all connected with such agricultural operations.
Mim Kut
Mim Kut or Maize Festival is usually celebrated during the months August and September, after the harvest of Maize. Mimkut is celebrated with great fanfare by drinking rice-beer, singing, dancing and feasting. Samples of the previous year's harvest are consecrated to the departed souls of the community.
Chapchar Kut
Chapchar Kut is another festivals celebrated sometime in March after completion of their most ardous task of jhum operation, i.e., jungle-clearing. This is a spring festival celebrated with great eclat.
Pawl Kut
Pawl Kut is Harvest Festival - celebrated during December to January after the harvests are over. It is perhaps the greatest festival, with plenty of grains in the barn and all the labours of the year over, what better time is there than this to have a great festival.
