“A tribe is a group of people connected to one another, connected to a leader, and connected to an idea. For millions of years, human beings have been part of one tribe or another. A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate.”
– Seth Godwin, Tribes: We need you to lead us
A land of diverse culture and traditions is what describes North East India in addition to the ‘Land of majestic landscapes and valleys’. North East India is home to over 200 tribes each having a distinct and varied culture practice than the other. From their language, food habits, wardrobes and festivals one will be able to spot the diversity across each tribal community.
These tribes have their origin from far away lands like Mongolia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and others. Their ancestors had visited the majestic landscapes of North East India and made it their home from times immemorial. They had brought with them their practices of agriculture and weaving and passed these practices on to their generations the glimpses of which you will still see in many of the tribal households.
These tribes are one of their kind and are undoubtedly the most colorful and culturally rich communities in India. Their life, beliefs, culture, traditions, food habits and languages have been of curiosity to anthropologists from around the world who visit the remote hills and forests (areas inhabited by these tribes) to learn and do quality research on the tribes of North East India.
Festivities are synonymous to the tribes of India’s North East. From the annual harvest to the tribal New year, each of these are a reason for celebration and festivities continue around the year for these tribes. From delicious traditional cuisines to locally brewed alcoholic beverages these festivals are sure to take anyone on a gastronomical tour of the culture and traditions of these tribes. During these festivities the members of each tribal community are dressed in their traditional attire (which are colorful, handmade and a feast to our eyes) and they display a show of colorful dance performances, ancient skills of martial arts and their traditions and source of livelihood in the form of their agrarian practices, handloom and handicrafts.
Tribes of North East India:
The Singpho tribe, the Mishing tribe, the Bodo tribe, the Dimasas, the Kacharis, the Naga ‘Warrior’ tribe, the Khasi tribe, the Garo tribe, the Bhutia tribe, the Kuki tribe, the Nishi tribe, the Angami tribe and the list continues…
Popular Traditional Festivals of North East India:
- The Dehing Patkai Festival – the State of Assam (January)
- The Magh Bihu Festival – the State of Assam (January)
- The Jonbeel Mela Festival – the State of Assam (January)
- The Brahmaputra Beach Festival – the State of Assam (January)
- The Losar Festival – the State of Arunachal Pradesh (February)
- The Rongali Bihu Festival – the State of Assam (April)
- The Moatsu Mong Festival – the State of Nagaland (May)
- The Ambubachi Mela – the State of Assam (June)
- The Dree Festival – the State of Arunachal Pradesh (July)
- Ziro Festival of Music – the State of Arunachal Pradesh (September)
- The Monolith Festival – the State of Meghalaya (October)
- The Rass Leela Festival – the State of Assam (November)
- Nongkrem Dance Festival – Meghalaya (November
- The Hornbill Festival – the State of Nagaland (December)
These festivities are unique to the region of North East India and we at Jungleideas welcome you here to be a part of these festivities and traditions of a land of cultural bliss !!
