Naga Traditional New Year Festival 2009

About 100,00 live in Sagain Division north of the Chin State and many more in nearby Nagaland in India. Up until recently, the Naga were headhunters who took heads in battle to ensure the fertility of their fields and to safeguard their villages. Many Naga have now been Christianized, but many of their old habits are still practiced. The anthropology and history of Naga people is not very clear and there are still a number of studies being made on them. Their physical features are those of the Mongoloid, Tibeto-Burman group. Most studies and books on Naga are written in English but sometimes their contents vary from one to another, confusing readers. For example, one of Naga tribe mentioned in one book never appears in another, or sub-groups are divided differently depending on different studies. One British writer says that the Naga are related to Kachin, not Chin, while another points out that the Kuki-Chin tribe has the closest relationship with Naga than any other of the surrounding tribes. The Indian Nagas from Assam do not look like Nagas in Myanmar, but appear to physically look more like Chins in Myanmar.

The principle reasons for the Naga taking heads was to avenge a killing, appease gods and for personal glory. Often heads or other body parts were hung from trees to ‘fertilize’ the community and arrows were placed in the eyes to ward off evil spirits. Naga men generally go almost naked except for a small loincloth. Men's tattoos are a form of identity signifying his villages and tribe. Women usually go bear breasted and wear tattoos from the time they are children as a sign to the gods. Now because of Christianity and influence from other Burmese cultures, tattooing is disappearing. Even today, Nagas hunt tigers and elephants with spears and bows.

The Naga's biggest festival is the Lunar New Year on January 15th, known as Kaing Bi and is organized by Naga festival committee who chooses each year's festival location. The committee is now under the control of central government who helps them coordinate activities. All Naga tribes in Myanmar, and some in India, send delegations to this occasion making it the perfect opportunity to see variety of different Naga people in one place.

Although most people have heard about Naga tribes there are some who have see them and only a few who have been to their area. During this new year festival you will be busy shaking hands with Naga warriors wearing hats made from bear fur, wild boar tusks, hornbill feathers, and tiger claws. Some also have tiger fangs hanging from their necklaces. This expeditions involve a crossing wild pristine forests and tribal villages where civilization has almost never touched.