Visit Arunachal Pradesh For These Indigenous Festivals

It doesn't matter how many times have you visited the state of Arunachal Pradesh or are still yet to visit, the state has so many beautiful tricks up its sleeves. No many how well you know the state, it never fails to amaze. Be it the landscape or the people or the culture, Arunachal Pradesh is a wonderful place anyday. And when it is festival time (and there are so many of those indigenous ones), that's when you need to be in Arunachal. Here are five indigenous Arunachali festivals that are worth travelling for.

Sangken Festival
Every year on February 14, the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh one of its most important festivals--Sangken. Though celebrated all over the state, it is mainly celebrated by the Khampti tribe. Lohit district, the home district of the Khamptis is where you should be during the festival. The festival marks the New Year and goes on for three days during which worshippers bathe Buddha's idol.

What one's NOT allowed to do during the festival kill animals, get intoxicated, illicit sexual activities, manual work, gambling and chopping down trees.

The festival is celebrated by the Apatani tribe of Lower Subansiri district. Celebrate life and nature's bounty with some of the most beautiful people in one of the most beautiful locations in the country--Ziro. During the festival, sacrifices of fowls, animals and eggs are made to Gods Tamu, Metii, Danyi and Harniang. The festival's venue, which is always near a paddy field, is decided by the priest.

Nyokum
The festival is celebrated by the Nyishi tribe on February 28 every year. The two-day festival is a celebration of land and people. A lot of singing and dancing happens during the festival and one needs to be in East Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Kuring Kummey and Papum Pare districts.

The festival is the most important one for the Monpa tribe of Tawang and West Kameng. To experience Losar the best way possible, you need to be in Tawang in late February to early March. The festival is celebrated for around 15 days during which one can see homes fully decorated with prayer flags and butter lamps. It's a pretty sight