Festivals Beyond Extravagant Displays

Nagaland, home to over a dozen tribes, hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, with each community celebrating its own, earning it the moniker "Land of Festivals". Most festivals centre around agriculture, thanksgiving, and the invocation of divine blessings—from seed sowing to post-harvest celebrations--strongly inter-woven in the culture, tradition, and social life of people passed down for generations. The mood and duration of celebration have evolved over the years, particularly with the gradual discarding of rituals associated with traditional festivals following the advent of Christianity and other religions. Today, celebration has been reduced to the preserving and passing down of rich cultural heritage and values to the younger generation, but the essence and purpose remain unchanged. For the Nagas, a festival is synonymous with community celebration and revelry. It’s about sharing, nurturing cultural ties, and strengthening family and community bonds, besides deepening our understanding of the beliefs and traditions that our ancestors held dear. Deviating from these positive aspects will only undermine the meaning and purpose of festivals. However, tribal festivals have become increasingly extravagant over the years, which goes against the age-old unwavering festive spirit that binds individuals and community. The transition from meaningful and simple celebrations to extravagant festivities has resulted in unnecessary financial strain, particularly for poorer families and communities. Politicians, government officials, and public leaders also feel the impact of this trend through donations. Today, festivals have become like a platform for public display of wealth and power, rather than celebrating culture and promoting peace within and among communities. We must take this trend seriously and turn the table, as overspending could indirectly encourage corruption and even disrupt social harmony.

The Naga society may be divided by tribalism and prejudices amid growing economic disparity and negativity, yet people come together in times of celebration and offer solidarity in times of hardship. The state's renowned Hornbill Festival is one event where various tribes gather to showcase their rich cultural heritage as one unit through dances and songs. It serves as an excellent example of how a festival should be celebrated – using it as a uniting force for peace, understanding and tolerance not only among the communities in the state but also beyond. Besides upholding the core values of festivals, such as fostering connections between diverse communities and promoting peace, we should also focus on celebrating festivals sustainably. This includes minimising environmental impact through effective waste management and avoiding single-use plastics.