Event Tourism -- Aoleang festival Nagaland || The festival of a warrior tribe
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| warfare practice during the 4th day |
India is one of the most diverse countries in the world, it is home to many tribes, race and ethnicity. One such region is the Northeastern India which is home to the Mongoloid race in India. We can say that they are more Indian than the other India's in the country. Let me explain myself, there is a State of Arunanchal Pradesh which borders with China and China claims it to be the southern Tibet and claims it as part of the Chinese territory. These people who live thousands of kilometers away from Delhi (The National Capital) fight against these claims of the Chinese though they are ethnically closer to the Chinese people. Despite facing discrimination they still call themselves Indian and when push comes to shove they stand with the Indian Army to fight against the Chinese Incursion.
But today we are not going to talk about the disputes in the northeastern region, but we are going to know about a beautiful place called Nagaland and its tribe -- Konyak tribe and their beautiful age old festival called Aoleang which attracts curious tourists from world over.
But before we start our Journey let me first tell you about the Konyak tribe.
Konyak Tribe
It is one of the indigenous tribes of India, they are one among many tribes who live in the small state of Nagaland. The Konyak Tribe is a warrior tribe and they were famous head hunters in the past (till 1970s). Konyak tribal celebrate Aoleang festival as their harvest festival which is celebrated in the first week of April every year.
Aoleang Festival
Today Haongfoi village in Nagaland is bustling with energy. Village Male, female, elders and children are in their traditional attires. The male's are sitting in Morong, women are not allowed in the Morong. But they are not out of action most women keep peeping inside the Morong. Morong is like a nursery where the elders teach the young male members of the community about their culture, hunting and Warfare. Today in Morong the famous Headhunters of the past have gathered. Their faces are covered in their tattoos. Though these elders have left their head hunting past behind. Headhunting was banned since 1970. Today these elders have gathered for the Aoleang Festival.
Aoleang festival is a 6 day festival of the Konyak tribal. An elder of the community get on the stage and tells people that earlier this festival used to begin with sacrifice of the animals but now times have changed and the festival begins with Prayer.
After this the elders and the other male members who are dressed in their traditional attire -- which looks very unique, they wear a cap and some bones and horn are decorated over the cap, and feathers of birds embellishes the beauty of the cap, the cap is accompanies by the robe which the male wear cross wise from their shoulder to the waist -- gather in the ground and beat the log drum. Log drum is a drum made from a wooden log which is made hollow by carving its inside. These drums are used in festival as well as when they have to signal an enemy attack on the village.
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| Beating of log drum |
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| Beating of log drum |
For the male of the village Spears and machete is as their part of the body but now these spear and machete have been replaced by the Guns which are home made. The male warriors gather in the ground and form a circle after which they fire on some target. The Volley of fires is an attraction for the tourists. After the Gun fire the males form small groups and they sing and dance with their group members.
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| Gun fire |
Male and females perform different functions in the festivals. The women gather on the field and the first to enter the the women dressed in black, these women are married and the elders women in the village, after them the unmarried women gather on the field and they perform a very different kind of dance, the women hold hands and form circle. They dance by shifting balance from front foot to back foot and visa versa while holding hands of each other.
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| Married and elder Women dancing in black |
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| Unmarried women dancing |
The festival is divided in 6 days--
1st day- is called Hoi Lai Yah Neih or the day of preparation when water and wood is gathered for the festival. This is done by the women in the village
2nd day- is called Yim Mok Fo Nieh or day when animals are brought home for sacrifice, this job is performed by the male members of the society.
3rd day- is called Yim Mok Che Neih or day day of sacrifice
4th day- Lingneu Nieh is the most important day. The community members wear traditional cloths and dance and sing together. and they invite guests and relatives for feast.
5th day- Linga Nieh on this day the elders and family members are paid respect.
6th day- is the last day and is called Lingshan Nieh on this day the villagers clean the house and village off the garbage produced during the festival.
One of the best part of being an India, what I believe, is that we get to experience extremes of every thing in our life. What foreign tourists call a cultural shock, is a common thing for us and we enjoy such diversity to its fullest.
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