It is very emphatically asserted that the people of Nagaland are vibrant earthly people for whom life itself is a celebration. All the festivals of Nagaland are celebrated with abundant fervor and enthusiasm. Life in the state of Nagaland revolves around fairs and festivals. The tribal population of Nagaland celebrates their distinct seasonal festivals with a vivacious display of color and a feast of music. They regard their festivals as revered and to them participation in all the festivals is compulsory. The prime occupation of the state is agriculture and hence most of the festivals of Nagaland revolve around agriculture. The festive celebrations of the Nagas are marked with rare gusto which in turn amazes the onlookers with awe and admiration. The predominant theme of all the festivals of Nagaland remains to be the offering of prayers to a Supreme Being having different names in different Naga dialects. The chief man of the village propitiates the spirit of the Gods with sacrifices for a bountiful yield of crops. The chief festivals of Nagaland include:

Moatsu
This festival is celebrated with much pomp and show by the Ao tribe in the state of Nagaland in the first week of May every year and is one of the most famous festivals of Nagaland. During this festival the rites and rituals are performed by the Nagas with much veneration. After the sowing is over the Nagas observe Moatsu Song with great excitement and vigor. This festival not only provides the tribe a period of recreation and amusement but is marked by an assortment of cultural performances. The festive celebrations last for a span of one week. The festivities also involve a symbolic celebration known as Sangpangtu, where a big fire is lit and men and women sit around it.

Tsungrem Mong

Tsungrem Mong, one of the cherished festivals of Nagaland is a much-awaited festival of the Ao tribe and is observed in the month of August according to the English calendar, just after the millet has been sown. This is one of the special thanksgiving festivals of Nagaland and is also regarded as a prayer for a copious yield of crops.

Nazu
This grand festival is celebrated by the Pochury tribe of Nagaland with much enthusiasm. It is reckoned as one of the most important festivals of Nagaland. It is indeed a gala event and is observed for a span of ten days at a stretch with much glitter and gaiety. The tribe also participates in a lot of cultural performances during thus auspicious occasion. The dancers adorn themselves with vibrant colored attires and glittering accessories. The harmonious movements of hands and legs along with the songs of different tunes and beats are especially noticeable in the dance form displayed by them.

Sekrenyi
This is one of the most important festivals of Nagaland celebrated in the month of February by the Angamis tribe. This festival, also known as Phousyni by the Angamis is celebrated for a span of ten days. The religious rites and rituals are observed by the tribe with much veneration. The best part of the festival is the Thekra Hie where the youth of the village accumulate and sing traditional songs throughout the day. The important part of the ceremony falls on the eighth day when the bride pulling or gate pulling is performed or inter-village visits are exchanged. Till the festive celebrations get over the field activities are put to a stop by the peasants, as they remain totally engrossed in the merriment.

Tuluni
This is one of the most important festivals of the Sumi Nagas in the state of Nagaland. This grand festival is celebrated during the second week of July, which is also regarded as a season of bounty in the state. Grand feasts and banquets mark the festive celebrations. This auspicious event holds special religious significance as well. Rice beer is served in a goblet made with the leaf of plantain. During this festival the young engaged couples exchange basketful of gifts. It is also a time of unrestrained merriment for the baby-sitters.


Yemshe
This grand festival celebrated by the Pochury tribe of Nagaland in the month of October is indeed a time of festivity. The arrival of the new harvest is welcomed with much exuberance and ebullience during this festival. The rich and the poor ceremonialize this festival with much fun and frolic expecting a bounteous harvest after a yearlong hard toil. The filed activities are put to a halt until the festival gets over. The arrival of the festival is first announced by the village spokesman following which; the first part of rituals takes place. The last day of the feast will be impressively observed as the feast-cleansing day. This festival is celebrated in two phases, namely the Big Yemshe and the Small Yemshe. The Big Yemshe is the time for preparations all around as the village youth cleanses the whole village. The purification of the house and a ritual feast characterizes the Small Yemshe.

Hornbill
This festival is organized by the Government of Nagaland and is celebrated grandly in Kohima every year between the first and the fifth days in the month of December. This is one of the colorful festivals of Nagaland and it mainly aims at protecting and sustaining the richness of the Naga heritage and traditions. Another aim of this festival is to have all the tribes of the state assimilate in a common get together to reflect the true secular spirit of the state. Traditional arts like paintings, woodcarvings and sculptures are also featured in this festival.


Bushu
Bushu is actually a post harvest festival and is celebrated by the Kachari tribe belonging to Nagaland in the month of January according to the English calendar. This grand festival can be distinctly categorized into three different varieties namely, `Hangsho`, `Surem` and `Jidep Jiba`. A feast of rice and meat followed by other social activities characterizes this grand festival. Competitions, traditional sports and other cultural activities are also held during the festive celebrations.