|
 Loku is the main festival of the Nocte tribe of the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The term 'Loku' that the Nocte tribe use in their dialect is derived from 'Lofe' (which literally means to drive out) and 'Rang-Ku' (season). Thus this festival literally means to drive out the old season of the year. The Loku festival is celebrated in some villages where the Nocte tribe resides during the months of July or August and in some villages after gathering the crops during the month of October or November. The Loku festival reflects the rich indigenous customs and conventions of the Nocte tribe, the inhabitants of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh.
The date of the Loku festival is decided by the elderly people of the villages after calculating the digits of the waxing moon. After the decision is taken, every Nocte village is echoed by the declaration of the date for celebration of Loku festival. People start preparing for the festival with great enthusiasm. Young boys and girls go to forest to collect 'Kow' leaves for making dishes and cups. They also collect firewood required for bonfire to be lighted during the festival. The Loku festival starts with the killing of pigs and buffalos. The first activity of this festival is called 'Famlam'.
The second day of the festival is called 'Chamkatja'. On this day, all the people go to a place known as 'Chaatam' that is located generally in the outskirt of the village. At that place, everybody offers prayer and this ceremony is headed by the chief for the well being of the people and for better agricultural products. Meals are taken after offering prayers and dancing starts. People wear traditional ceremonial dresses and their dancing continues till dawn. This traditional dance is known as 'Chamwangbong'. The third day of the Loku festival is known as 'Thanglangja', when the village elders and the chief select plots, on the basis of the omen shown by the eggs, for jhoom cultivation to be practiced in the New Year. On this day too, villagers visit each others place and take food and drink. After taking food and drinks on this day the festival comes to an end. The Nocte tribal people bid farewell to the Loku festival by singing their traditional songs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Tribals
|
|
|
| • | Kekayas
Kekayas were an ancient tribe of India. The Kekya tribe finds mention not only in the Ramayana but it is also said that they had played an important role in the great battle of Kurukshetra.
| | | • | Chedi
Cedis were a tribe of the Vedic Age. In the period of Mahabharata Cedis had appeared as one of the prominent tribes of India.
| | | • | Bhojas
Bhojas have been described as a very important tribe in the Aitareya Brahmana. Historical records have said that the Bhojas were settled towards the southern and central parts of India.
| | | • | Jaintia Tribe
Jaintia Tribes are located in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. They are also called the Pnars. They are famous for weaving of carpet, making of musical instruments, jewellery and pineapple fibre articles.
| | | • | Traditional Dress of Angami Naga Tribe
Traditional Dress of Angami Naga Tribe is a lot different from the other tribes of India. Shawls are the most popular traditional dresses of Angami Naga Tribe.
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
