Some of the major festivals of Manipur.

Cheiraoba Festival: One of the most famous festivals of Manipur, Cheiraoba is celebrated on the 1st day of Sajibu month (March-April). This is also known as Spring Festival in Manipur. During this festival, people dress up in traditional outfits, visit friends and relatives, exchange greetings and gifts and cook local delicacies. The regional goddess Sanamahi is also worshipped during Cheiraoba festival of Manipur. Major fact about this festival is that the people climb up to the crest of the Cheiraoching hill, located in Imphal during this festival. Local folks believe that climbing this hillock signifies the rise of human civilization.

Yaoshang Festival: From the full moon day of Phalguna month (February-March), the celebration of Yaoshang Festival of Manipur or Holi starts and continues for 5 days. This is one of the major Manipur festivals as well as entire north-eastern region of India. People throw and spray dry and wet colours on each other, sing songs and dance together. Children collect money from every household and organise feasts, parties, sports, and games in the localities.

Lai Haraoba: Featuring the worship of local gods and goddesses, Lai Haraoba is among the widely celebrated festivals in Manipur. Here people also worship their ancestors with great devotion and zeal. Literally translating to ‘festivity of Gods,’ this festival is rejoiced by worshipping local deities like Sanamahi, Nongpok Ningthou, Leimarel, Pakhangba and 364 Umang Lais or Jungle deities. Both men and women present folk dances, enact in drama, and perform Thoibi and Khamba- a popular Manipuri folklore before the traditional deities.

Kang Festival: Kang Festival or Rath yatra, takes place in Govindjee temple in Manipur, every year. Here, the murthys of Shree Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken in kang (chariot). Devotees with immense enthusiasm and fervour pull the kang and play nahal, gongs, bells, drums, and conch. They also offer barti, which are cotton balls soaked in ghee to the gods during the yatra. Community feasts are organised in the evening as well. This is a 10-day long celebration.

Heirku Hindongba: It is celebrated on 11th day of Langbal month (September). This is a boat race on the canal of the Bijoy Govinda area in Manipur. Local youths participate in this thrilling boat race with zeal, enthusiasm, and team spirit. On the eve of the festival, the boats are cleaned and purified with holy shlokas and decorated with garlands. Temporary tents are also erected by the canal for spectators from all parts of the state. The murthy of Shree Vishnu is placed by the canal with the belief that He will supervise the race and preside over the festival. More over Brahmins offer gold and silver to the deities before commencement of the boat race.

Ningol Chakouba: It is a celebration of Meiteis or the Vaishnavites, is one of the most famous and important festivals of Manipur. Through this festival, married woman, who live in remote places after marriage, are invited with children to their parent’s house. They are greeted with immense warmth and love and treated with lavish meals. They spend the entire day with their parents, get pampered and return to their marital homes with blessings and gifts. Ningol Chakouba is celebrated on the 2nd day of the New Moon in the Manipuri month of Hiyangei which usually falls in November. Special dishes like Pan Thongba, Chagempomba, Champhut and Iromba are cooked.

Chumpha Festival: Observed by the tribal community of Tanghul Nagas, Chumpha is one of the popular Manipur festivals, celebrated for 7 days after the harvest. People rejoice the annual produce and celebrate with merriment and social gatherings with friends and families, particularly on the last three days. Chumpha festival of Manipur ends on the 7th day with a grand rally in the village. It is an important harvest festival of Manipur that is worth experiencing.

Lui Ngai Ni Festival: It is the seed-sowing festival celebrated by the tribes in Manipur in the beginning of Manipur season. It is the main festival of Manipur and is celebrated with much fervour and zeal. The name – Lui-Ngai-Ni is taken from three different languages of Naga tribes but all means the same thing i.e. sowing of seeds. The tribe people pay homage to the god of crops for a good harvest by dancing and singing.

Some of the famous festivals of Mizoram.

Hlukhla Kut: The Hlukhla Kut is a festival of Lai people. It is celebrated during March after completion of their most arduous task of jhum operation i.e., jungle-clearing (clearing of the remnants of burning). It is a spring festival celebrated with great favour and gaiety. Nowadays, the festival is observed in the last part of February or the early part of March when the trees and bamboos felled for jhum are left to dry and the shifting cultivators have time to relax and enjoy.

Chapchar Kut Festival: The main festival of Mizoram, Chapchar Kut is a colourful welcoming of the spring season. It puts the entire state into a joyous frenzy during which locals immerse themselves in the festivities, dancing and singing to traditional hymns. Thousands of tourists flock to the towns of Aizawl and nearby areas to commemorate the onset of spring. It starts with clearing the forest land to make way for farmland. The leftover wood is burnt, and cereal crops are sown to harvest during the monsoons. Local Mizo tribes wear traditional attire and perform the Cheraw and Chai dances. Enjoy a glass of rice beer as you immerse yourself in the fervour of the Chapchar Kut festival of Mizoram that happens in the first week of March.

Mim Kut Festival: Another famous festival of Mizoram, Mim Kut is celebrated during the months of August-September. It commemorates the harvest of the seeds sown during the Chapchar Kut festival and honours the departed souls of the tribe. Welcoming the bountiful harvesting period, Mim Kut is a very sacred festival as it honours the dead with a portion of the first produce from the harvest. Irrespective of class and status, the festival is celebrated with immense zeal by the Mizo people who also prepare a feast for the deceased.

Pawl Kut Festival: Mizoram’s famous festival Pawl Kut is an intriguing harvest fiesta that dates back to the 15th century. Farming was an important means of income for the tribes of Mizoram who faced a severe drought in the 18th century. It lasted for three years, so the people prayed to the rain god to bless their lands with showers. By December, there was a huge downpour and the Mizo locals decided to devote the first produce from their land to the Bhagavan. Each year in December, the Pawl Kut festival is celebrated in full force with music and folk dance.

Khudao Kut Festival: Another famous festival of Mizoram, Khuado Kut is a celebration that thanks the Bhagavan for the bountiful harvest. Khuado Kut has been derived from the words ‘nighttime’ and ‘defend’. The collective meaning is a festival when the local villagers come together to defend themselves and their harvest from the devil. Organised by the village chief, every household of the tribe collects the bark of a pine tree to light and ward off evil spirits from their lands. A culmination of age-old traditions, exquisite meals, dance, and hymns, Khuado Kut is a high-spirited affair.

Thalfavang Kut Festival: The main festival of Mizoram, Thalfavang Kut also celebrates the harvest period after the weeding of the land. Villagers prepare their fields for the forthcoming harvesting season and organise a gaiety gala as a boost for tourism in the state. Various exhibitions are organised to showcase handmade crafts, handlooms, antique jewellery, and local war weapons made by the skilled artisans of Mizoram.

Some of the crucial festivals of Tripura.

Kharchi Festival: This festival has still linked the past with the present. It is said that this festival or puja was commenced by the royal family of Tripura when the capital of princely Tripura was at Old Agartala. Now it is a universal festival that sees the confluence of people of different walks of life. Only head images of fourteen deities are worshipped during Kharchi. Only head images are defined by Brahmanical names such as Hara, Uma, Hari, Maa, Bani, Kumar, Ganesh, Brahma, Pritthi, Ganga, Abdi, Kamesh, and Himadri.

Bijhu Festival: It is the biggest festival of the Chakma tribe. Beginning on the last day of Chaitra of Bengali calendar year this festival goes on for three days. Prayer to Lord Buddha, lot of festive eating, music, dance, games, and sports – all these become main activities during this festival. Further, it reflects their Jhum-based livelihood and social practices which are depicted through Bijhu dance. Falling in mid-April every year nowadays a state-level festival is organized with the assistance of the state government.

Owa Festival: This festival is celebrated by the Mog community on the full moon day of Ashwin of Bengali calendar year. Men and women go to the Buddhist temple during the day and in the evening, they release paper and toy boats in the river. They believe that Bhagavan Buddha sets out his journey through the land of darkness and lighted candles are placed to illuminate this path.

Ganga Puja Festival: Tripura Tribals honour the Goddess of the River i.e., Ganga Mata. The festival is held to pray for the safety of pregnant women and to protect them from diseases. Moreover, a bamboo temple is established in the middle of a river or stream to celebrate the occasion. According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, the popular festival is host throughout the state in March, April, or May.

Garia Puja Festival: Garia Puja is one of the most important festivals in Tripura. In this festival, Lord Garia, the god of animals and money, is worshipped with flowers and garland. Cotton thread, rice, chicken chick, rice beer, wine, clay pots, eggs, and grape juice are use in the Garia Puja. It involves an ancient ritual of sacrificing the chicken just before the god. The blood of the chicken is sprayed well before the Lord to get the Lord’s blessings. Due to the fear of troubling the Lord. No one is permitted to cross the shade of the bamboo tree, which represents the god Garia, during the celebration. The celebration features youngsters playing the drums, singing, and dancing in front of Lord Garia to try to appease him. Furthermore, the villagers think that sacrificing mature male geese, goats, and even buffalo. As part of their offerings may help to avoid epidemic infections.

Unakoti Festival or Ashokastami Festival: The festival is celebrated in Unakoti, which is decorated with massive rock-cut statues of Devas and Devis in the centre of nature’s nice gesture which dates back to 7th to 9th Century CE. Call it a religious site, a historical site, or a hill station; any title seems acceptable. However, Sitakunda or Ashtamikunda a natural water source coming from a romping spring of crystal water. Becomes the most appealing attraction to the people during Maghi Sankranti (in February). Raghunandan Parvat of the ancient has given way to Unakoti, which is only 10 kilometres from Kailashahar. Nature has exposed its heart here, and the sculptors have totally invested in their skills.

Some of the major festivals of Meghalaya:

Wangala Festival aka Garo Wangala Festival: Wangala, another traditional Khasi festival of Meghalaya, is held in the summer months to celebrate and honour the goddess Marang Buru. The goddess is said to be the protector of children, food, and the family. The festival is a public holiday in Meghalaya. One of the major attractions of the festival is bamboo climbing competitions, bullfighting, and boat races. The Khasi New year begins with a prayer for the well-being of the self, family, and the community. After that, each household must perform various rituals and do various prayers to please the goddess, Marang Buru. Among the numerous rituals observed during the Wangala festival is the death ritual of a six-month-old infant boy, “Jaintia” (Sarung Bong), who is sacrificed on the cold nights of Winter. This ceremony is followed by many other sacrifices of animals and sharing of food with people in need.

Shad Sukra: Shad Sukra festival of Meghalaya is another popular festival among the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya, is celebrated to mark the end of Winter and is a complete contrast to the Shad Suk Mynsiem. It was believed that spirits caused pestilence and epidemics during the Winter. Hence, people offered prayers at temples to cure their sick relatives back then. But, nowadays, people celebrate this festival for fun and joy. This festival is held in various parts of Meghalaya on different dates, as per the moon’s phases.

Behdienkhlam Festival: Behdienkhlam is one of the most famous festivals in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya. It celebrates the victory of a husband over his wife. Still, unlike other traditional Meghalaya festivals, this festival is a family affair with relatives and friends gathering in each household to celebrate. The festival lasts for three days, and during this period, the family members become united under one roof by family ties.

Shad Suk Mynsiem: Shad Suk Mynsiem is a celebration held by the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya on January 6th to celebrate the growth in the days of Winter. The festival marks the beginning of another year, with people wishing one another “Shad Sukmynsem”, meaning “have a good year”. Celebrations include feasts, community gatherings and performances by local musicians.

Nongkrem Festival: The Khasis celebrate the Nongkrem Festival annually in Smit with grandeur and joy. This thanksgiving festival lasts for about 5 days and occurs in either October or November each year. Visitors from around the globe flock to witness Khasi men and women perform the Shad Mystieh dance. During this festival young virgin girls of the Khasi clan, wear expensive silk and gold ornaments and dance the Ka Shad Kynthei in the inner circle of the arena, while men dressed in dhoti, full-sleeved shirt, sleeveless coat, and a turban with a sword in their right hand perform the Ka Shad Mystieh in the outer circle. This dance symbolizes male power and protection over women.

Some of the Famous Festivals of West Bengal

Poila Boishakh: Poila Boishakh or the first day of Baisakh is the first day of a Bengali calendar year i.e., on 14th of April. The day is often known as Bengali New Year. This day marks the beginning of a new year for a Bengali household and thus calls for a celebration. People make extensive preparations for this day, buying new clothes, preparing extensive dishes at home, and most importantly offering prayers to Deva and Devi. This day is very special for the Bengalis. On this day the traders start their new accounting books, the ceremony is commonly known as 'Hal Khata'.

Jamai Shoshti: This beautiful commemoration celebrates the complicated but underrated relationship between a mother-in-law and her son in law. This is a day to bring the warmth back in the relationships and proves to be yet another reason to celebrate the blessing that is life. On this special day, the son in law visits his in-laws’ home where a grand party is organized for him, containing people from the household or more acquaintances as they want to mark the occasion. The mother-in-law cooks extensive and mouth-watering dishes for her son in law and no celebration in the Bengali household can be complete without food. The day is also marked with giving gifts to the son in law from his in-laws too and being blessed by them with having a long and prosperous life ahead.

Maa Durga Puja: It is perhaps one of the grandest festivals of the state of West Bengal; Durga Puja of Kolkata is famous worldwide for the huge celebrations and the faith that comes with the victory of Good over Evil. The festival is a massive celebration in the name of Maa Durga who defeated the shape-shifting demon Mahisasura after a ten-day battle. The day is known as Vijay Dashmi. The celebrations are truly on a different level altogether with roads being ten times more crowded than the usual with people going out for their last-minute shopping sessions and for sightseeing the extensive pandals that flock the city. The city sure has some of the best artistically made pandals which draw attention from all around the world. The city loses itself during the 10 days of celebration. The day is marked by many rituals and ends with Sindoor Khela followed by the procession of clay sculpture idols that are later immersed in the river. It is believed that on this day Durga returns to Shiva and therefore it is considered an auspicious day for married women and they indulge in Sindoor Khela, a ritual for their blissful marital life. This elaborate festival is a true depiction of grand festivities and the excitement in the folks of West Bengal that are beyond the caste or creed.

Lakshmi Puja: Another very significant Sanatani Festival celebrated by the Bengalis in October, Lakshmi Puja is celebrated throughout the state with great enthusiasm and passion. To be a part of this grand festivity, People from different parts of the world come to visit the state during this festival. This festival is celebrated after a week of Vijay Dashmi. Maa Lakshmi who is believed to be the Devi of wealth and prosperity, and people devote their respect and gratitude towards Maa Lakshmi.

Kali Puja: Kali Puja is celebrated fervently in West Bengal, usually in late October or early November, coinciding with Diwali. The festival is dedicated to Maa Kali, the fierce form of Shakti (divine energy). Streets are lit with colourful lights, and houses are adorned with candles and lamps. Families come together to pray to Maa Kali for protection against evil and general well-being. The night sky resonates with the sounds of firecrackers, symbolising the driving away of demons. During the celebration, people also enjoy a feast of traditional sweets and savoury dishes. Kali Puja is a religious event and a cultural spectacle that brings together communities in joyful celebration.

Bhai Phota Festival: Bhai Phota is a heartwarming festival celebrated two days after Diwali in West Bengal. On this day, sisters apply a ceremonial sandalwood paste mark on their brothers' foreheads, praying for their long life and prosperity. An exchange of gifts and sweets follows this ritual. Families gather for a special meal that includes the brothers' favourite dishes. Bhai Phota strengthens the bond between siblings and is akin to Raksha Bandhan, celebrated in other parts of India but with its unique regional flavour and customs.

Karam Parab: Karam Parab is an agricultural festival celebrated by the tribal communities in West Bengal, usually in September. The festival revolves around the worship of the Karam tree, symbolising fertility, and prosperity. On this day, villagers bring home branches of the Karam tree and worship it with flowers, rice, and incense. Dancing, singing, and drumming are integral to the celebration, reflecting the community's connection to nature and cultural heritage. Karam Parab is a time for rejoicing and socialising, strengthening community bonds.

Please stay tuned till the arrival of Part-3 and it will be covering all the major festivals of the states of India, situating in the central region.

Special Festivals of all the 28 States of India (Part-2)

This part of the series 'Special Festivals of the 28 States of India' covers the festivals of the states of India situated in the north-east region.