Showing posts with label winter tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter tourism. Show all posts

Thursday 16 August 2012

Mongmong Festival in Nagaland.


Come September, the extreme eastern state of India – Nagaland would be the perfect place to visit as these agrarian mountain-folk whose lives revolve and depend on agriculture, celebrate the harvest festival – ‘Mongmong’ which in the local ‘Sangtam’ dialect means ‘togetherness forever’. Mongmong is celebrated week-long during the first week of September.

Mongmong Festival celebrates harvest and friendship that has kept these mountain tribes of Nagaland together always. The festival starts off with the village priest (beburu) announcing ‘Zangnyuo Mongmong Nung Eh-Lehe’ or the commencement of the festival with prayers and rituals at midnight.
·        On the first day – which is called ‘Singkithsa’, the oldest person of the area is asked to perform the festival rituals at the well. The villagers spend the day collecting millets, vegetables and firewood from the fields. Livestock (cows, pigs and mithuns) transactions are closed on this day.
·        On the second day, as the gathering of the firewood and the vegetables continues, meat for the festive delicacies is arranged.
·        On the third day which is called ‘MÜSÜYANGTAP’, people worship their three oven stones in belief that these stones represent God (Lijaba). Families eat food only after this worship is done. Local rice beer dancing, tug of war and other merry-making activities take over next.
·        On the fourth day which is called ‘KIKHA-LANGPI’, the Priest and the men-folk spruce up the village by clearing the weeds; clearing the roads and pathways leading to wells and fields and then head to the Priest’s home where a party awaits for all the men who toiled all day in trying to make the village look neat and nice.
·        On the fifth day which is called ‘SHILANG WUBA NYUMONG’, people visit their families and friends in the same village and in the neighbouring villages and exchange drinks and meat as gifts – pretty much like the Muslim custom of ‘Bakrid’.
·        From the sixth day onwards which is called ‘SHILANG WUBA NYUMONG’ the actual harvesting process begins in the fields. People invoke the blessings of God on their crops and their families and pray for a good harvest and good health.

Among a host of others, Nagaland folk songs, Millet harvesting shows, Paddy sowing shows, fire making, tug of war, war dances and archery competitions are showcased during the festivities. Thousands of people from Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh converge for the festival during these days.


It is a mélange of colourful cultural displays of 15 different tribes under one roof. Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchunger, Kuki and Zeliang being the largest Naga tribes in Nagaland, converge for this harvest festival Mongmong in Kohima – the State Capital of Nagaland.
Kohima is perched atop a ridge at 4200 feet above sea level (same as Kalimpong in WB) with 70% green cover, and is surrounded by lush green mountains and meadows covered endlessly with emerald hued wild grass and wild flowers. The scenic, serene and fresh environs, the salubrious climate and the lovely sunsets would have you anchored to this place for longer than you scheduled. Kohima is perfect for adventure sports such as mountain-treks; para-gliding; rock-climbing and camping. Mix all this with a cultural fiesta and you’ve got yourself a complete holiday package – the best that your money can buy!

The nearest airport to Kohima is in Dimapur in Nagaland at 74 kms northeast of Kohima. Regular flights from Guwahati in Assam and Imphal in Manipur connect Kohima. The nearest railhead to Kohima is in Dimapur. National Highway 39 connects Kohima to Dimapur on the north and Imphal on the south.
If you can’t make it to Kohima for Mongmong festival during the first week of September, then the next best time to visit Nagaland is during the first week of December for the Hornbill Festival.
Peace Out !

Pix courtesy: the hindu, photoblog.nbcnews, northeasttoday, demotix, govisitnagaland.

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Winter tourism in India.

Missed vacationing this summer? Never heard of winter-vacationing in India? Read on and prepare to be amazed.
·         The great ‘ChadarTrek’ is the high point of winter-tourism in India. Much-awaited all year long, Indian youngsters take off to Zanskar in December when the temperature plunges to -40 degrees Celsius, in order to trek-up and camp-out on the frozen River Zanskar. Ice and snow is all you see there and sunlight is purely ornamental.
Best Time: December.

·         Get outrageously adventurous this winter and go Helicopter-skiing on the Pir Panjal Mountains at 13,000 feet altitude in Gulmarg. Rated as one of the finest powder-snow ski-descents in the world, Gulmarg offers 66 mountain peaks for professional and amateur skiers. Training and skiing equipment is provided at the GulmargSki Village - now all you need is guts.
Best Time: 25 December - end of February.

·         Seek Snow-Leopards in Hemis National Park at 20,000 feet and in Dachigam National Park at 14,000 feet altitude wrapped in -40 degrees Celsius. This needs patience, determination and a good Snow-Leopard guide. The mere journey of searching for the snow-leopards is out of this world!
Best Time: December & January.

·         Pay respects to this Great prehistoric animal that’s been on this planet for 50 million years – the Great One-horned Rhino whose largest population in India is in Kaziranga National Park which is also two-thirds of world population of Rhinos. Jaldapara WildlifeSanctuary, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorumara National Park are the next biggest Rhino-joints. You would also get to see other wildlife in their lush green natural habitat.
Best Time: January & February.

·         Go birding with binoculars and a camera to the country’s Bird-Hotspots between 4000-7000 feet altitude such as Neora Valley National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, BuxaNational Park among others.
Best Time: January & February.
·         Ask no more. Just head out to Goa this winter if you’ve not already been there. Goa’s beaches in winter are something else like no other in this country. Beach parties, beach shacks, beach flea-markets and the New Year’s Eve Parties are a rage here.
Best Time: December & January.

·         And this one – you’ll get sold on easily. Indulge in luxurious and romantic ‘Desert Camp Suites’ of large canvas tents lit-up with beautiful lanterns in the middle of Rajasthan Deserts of Jaisalmer and the Great Indian Thar Desert. Desert Safaris, Jeep-rides, Camel-treks – will give you fascinating desert experiences that will completely woo you and make you want to go back for more. Staying in a desert-camp is one of the best things that you could do with your money!
      Best Time: November, December, January, February.



So clear your calendar, block your dates and pack up for an amazing Winter Holiday!

Pix courtesy: Hindubusinessline, Serai, Goabeachhuts, mytourideas, valuemytrip, exoticasiatravels, travelandleisure.