Moatsu Festival – Nagaland

Moatsu festival is celebrated by the Ao Naga tribe in Nagaland(India). It is an agriculture festival that is celebrated annually in the first week of May. It marks the completion of the sowing season. This year(2023) the festival was held on the theme ‘Celebrating our Roots’. During Moatsu, the Ao Nagas perform various traditional rituals, dances, and feasts.

It is celebrated in the hope of a good harvest and one of the symbolic celebrations is Sangpangtu. It is a festival of community bonding and a period of recreation and entertainment after the stressful work of clearing fields, burning jungles, and sowing seeds.

In this article, we will read about the Moatsu Festival of Nagaland, which is called the harvest festival of Nagaland, the activities of Moatsu, the customs, and rituals of the festival, etc.

Moatsu Festival – Nagaland

History of Moatsu Festival Nagaland

Moatsu Festival, also known as the ‘sowing festival’, celebrates the harvest with great fanfare. It is an annual festival that begins after the seeds are sown. Originally, it used to be held for six days, but now it takes place for 3 days(May 1-3) and sometimes extends for a week. The festival is seen as a reward for those who have put in long hours in the fields.

Activities of Moatsu Festival Nagaland

The main aim of this festival is to ask for blessings from God after completing many different tasks and activities such as:

• Repairs and construction of houses by elders of the Putu Menden (Village Council)
• Marriages in the spring season
• Ploughing of old and new Jhum Kheti
• Cleaning up the Tsubu (Water Wells)

After completing all these activities the festival of Moatsu takes place.

Traditional Dress of Moatsu Festival Nagaland

Villagers dress in their traditional Ao Naga attire during the festival and decorate their homes for this occasion including bamboo and wooden structures. They gather in large groups around fires to perform traditional songs and dances.

The festival is marked by peppy songs and dances. Feasting forms an important part of Moatsu and various traditional dishes and local brews are prepared and shared among community members. The festival is an occasion for communal harmony, and people come together to enjoy meals and celebrate.

The place where the famous festival takes place: It is celebrated in Mokokchung district villages (Chuchuyimlang village), Nagaland. The State Department of Tourism has designated Chuchuyimlang as the only ‘Moatsu Destination’ of the State.

Customs and Rituals of Moatsu Festival Nagaland

Moatsu festival is celebrated in the hope of good harvest. The Ao Nagas are primarily agrarian, and Moatsu is a way of expressing gratitude to the divine for a bountiful harvest. It highlights their dependency on agriculture. The customs and rituals that take place during the festival are:

1. Three Day Festival

• On the first day of the festival, the younger boys would go to the jungle and collect 6 bundles of paired bamboo strips each, which in turn are handed over to the Morung elders.
• On the second day, all the male members engage in clearing the village. On the same night, the cows and pigs are slaughtered for the festival.
• On the third day the meat is distributed among the boys of the Morung and some portion is kept in order to be given as presents. The boys eat the meat outside the Morung, the elders come into the Morung and are entertained with oriental alcoholic beverage.

2. Sangpangtu

It is a kind of symbolic celebration. During this, a large fire is lit, and women and men gather around it. The most wise women serve the finest wine and meat, and everyone enjoys themselves. The righteous men who live by the guidance of the Almighty, make forecast to see if good or challenging times are ahead for the people.

3. Intimate Affair

Before the festival starts, the Sungkum (village gates) are closed. No outsider is allowed inside the village, making it an extra intimate affair.

4. Communal Feasting and Sharing of Food

Its the natural customary practice of the forefathers to make the best rice bear and rearing and slaughtering the best possible pigs and cows. It shows symbolic significance or historical roots within the community.

5. Marriages

The marriages that are supposed to take place in the spring season are discussed and a lot of stories are shared by young boys as well as brave and fearless warriors of their ancestors.

Communal aspect

• Women play a significant role in the festivities by weaving traditional garments and adorning themselves in finery. Women join the men in dancing, eating and drinking and composing warrior songs.
• Singing songs in praise of the lover and the village as a whole adds a cultural and emotional layer to the celebration. It shows expressions of love and pride for both individuals and the community.
• The older men encourage the young people to be bold and heroic to defend and protect them from enemies as head-hunting was practiced during their fore-fathers time.
• It provides an opportunity for family members and villagers to come together, share experiences, and celebrate their cultural identity.

Sports and Games

They perform inter-ward indigenous games competitions that included tug-of-war (both men and women), pole climbing and bamboos tilt walking. It is a period of recreation and entertainment after the tiresome work.

The festival reflects a blend of cultural preservation, celebration, and the passing down of values from one generation to the next.

Interesting Facts about Moatsu Festival Nagaland

The Moatsu festival is a famous festival of Nagaland. It is celebrated in Mokokchung district villages (Chuchuyimlang village), Nagaland. The festival is celebrated for 3 days(May 1- May3).

• It is an annual festival that starts after sowing seeds.
• Festival provides a period of recreation and entertainment after stressful period of clearing fields, burning jungles, sowing seeds, etc.
• Sangpangtu is one of the symbolic celebrations.
• It is celebrated in the hope of good harvest.

Summary – Moatsu Festival

The Moatsu Festival is a significant cultural celebration observed by the Ao Naga tribe in Nagaland, India. Held annually in the first week of May, the festival marks the culmination of the sowing season and aims for a prosperous harvest. Themed “Celebrating our Roots” in 2023, the festival involves traditional rituals, dances, and communal feasts, fostering community bonding. Sangpangtu, a symbolic celebration, features a large fire where men and women gather, sharing the finest wine and meat. The festival, held in Chuchuyimlang village, Mokokchung district, includes customary practices, intimate affairs, and sports competitions, reflecting the preservation of cultural identity and values. It provides an opportunity for villagers to unite, share experiences, and express love and pride for their community.

FAQs on Moatsu Festival Nagaland

1. Which festival is the harvest festival in Nagaland?

Moatsu festival is known as the harvest festival in Nagaland.

2. Why is Moatsu festival celebrated?

The Moatsu festival is celebrated by Ao Naga tribes of the Nagaland. The celebration begins after the seeds are sown in the hope of good harvest.The festival brings people together and develop community bonding .

3. What is the main festival of the AO tribe?

The Moatsu festival is the main festival celebrated by the Ao Naga tribes. It is celebrated in the first week of May after the seeds are sown. Various traditions, rituals, dance and feasts are performed during the festival.

4. In which district the famous Moatsu festival is held?

The Moatsu festival is held in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district. It is celebrated by the Ao Naga tribe of the Nagaland. It provides an opportunity for family members and villagers to come together, share experiences, and celebrate their cultural identity.

5. What are the rituals performed during Moatsu?

The rituals performed during Moatsu includes Repairs and construction of houses by elders of the Putu Menden (Village Council), Marriages in the spring season, Ploughing of old and new Jhum Kheti, and Cleaning up the Tsubu (Water Wells).

6. What activities are done during Moatsu Festival?

During Moatsu festival traditional custom and rituals are performed like communal feasts, traditional sports and games, cultural performances, bonfires, and night activities. It represents community bonding.