FESTIVALS: A SYNOPTIC VIEW AND

THE TANGKHUL NAGA SEED SOWING FESTIVAL

ABSTRACT

        Man is social by nature and his life is governed by theoretical and practical experiences within the society .In the society there are several ethnic and religious group which has various culture and customs. All this ethnic groups in the society have various kinds of Festivals related with their social, culture, or religious life. Therefore Festivals are expression of their happiness showing their identity, cultural life and sometime of religious faith. There are various kinds of festivals such as Religious festivals, Arts and craft festival, Food and drink festivals, Seasonal and harvest festival.  Among them one of the festival celebrated by Tangkhul Naga Known as “Lui-Ngai-Ni” (Seed sowing festival) is unique in its own way as it is a celebration of the amalgamation of all kinds and purpose in this single Festival. It is celebrated to invoke the god of wealth for good harvest and also socializing events having beauty contest for choosing their life partner and also marketing opportunity to buy and sell their goods during this festival.  It is celebrated for 12 days.

Hence Festivals has several facets which have different significance and purposes which become part of our life so cannot be ignore or separated from human being.

KEY WORDS 

Festivals are the indicator of Cultural identity.