Aoleang Monyu Festival with Kaziranga & Ziro Tour

OLEANG MONYU FESTIVAL;

from March 24 to April 6, 2026;

The most important tribal festival of the Konyak, the people of Nagaland known and feared until recent past as behead cutters, is the celebration of spring which takes place in early April after the completion of seeding (there is also a festival in December, promoted by the tourism body) and known as “Hornbill”, interesting and also varied but less sincere). Fortunately, from the ancient relic of cutting the heads of the enemies, today only the necklace on which metal heads hang remains, but observing the elders who carry them with a peculiar sense of pride it impresses to realize that for these men the symbol manifests not only the warrior’s pride but… also the number of people killed by them as a youth. During the festival different rituals, dances, parties and sacrifices are performed to benefit the divine forces that can thus bring a good harvest. The event lasts several days, the initial part serves mainly as preparation to get the costumes ready, choose animals for sacrifices, prepare food and rice beer, with a progressive crescendo; on the main day the Konyaks display the most beautiful costumes and the celebrations continue most of the day with songs and dances recalling tribal traditions, including the beheading. The final part is quieter, with people exchanging visits and celebrations in families.

.