Before sowing is done in the fields, a number of rites and customs are conducted throughout the festival. After completing numerous farm-related tasks like burning jungles, clearing fields, eliminating weeds and wild plants, cleaning up wells or Tsubu, making repairs to their dwellings, and more, they are well-deserving of a break.
These three days off from their arduous work allow them to unwind, indulge, and have a great time. They relax after months of demanding farm work by singing and dancing to upbeat songs.
The customs and culture of the Moatsu Festival
Moatsu Festival is a significant social and cultural event. It takes many different forms. Men and women dress to the nines and gather around a massive bonfire for the symbolic celebration known as sangpangtu. Wine and meat are offered for consumption. The readings at the event predict whether the villagers will have a good or disastrous year. The local witch doctors interpret these readings and offer prognoses. Overall, there is a lot of interpersonal communication amongst residents, which contributes to a strong sense of community.
Moatsu Festival: Time, Location, and Tickets
Moatsu Festival is observed in Mokokchung from May 1 to May 3, often lasting the entire week. It's amazing to see the Ao Tribe of Nagaland celebrate a successful harvest. The locals celebrate in a very quiet and private way. Major Moatsu Festival Attractions
The Moatsu festival, which is held at the beginning of May, lasts the entire first week of the month. A customary fire is set during the festivities, and the villagers congregate there to enjoy themselves and have a good time.
1. The start of the festivities
As soon as the event is announced, the villagers immediately lock the gates to their community. In order to prevent outsiders from taking part in the Moatsu celebration, this is done. This demonstrates the tribal people's preference for keeping their festivals and other events relatively secret.
2. Events for dancing and competitions
Young people and the elderly participate in competitions as part of the event. Making the best rice beer is a contest between the older and younger guys. On the other side, ladies compete to make their people the greatest traditional clothing possible. Not only that, but they also like singing, dancing, and other forms of traditional entertainment.
3.Sangpangtu
The focal point of the Nagaland Moatsu Festival is this ceremony or tradition. According to tradition, a large fire is kindled in a manner similar to Holika Dahan. The tribespeople congregate around it and sing songs, perform arts, and dance while enjoying the happy occasions.
4. Sacrifice and other Rituals
The people start the fire before bringing their pigs and cows to sacrifice in order to appease the supreme god. After the killing, prayers are offered for the impending harvest. Following all of this, the village's witch doctor attends the celebrations and makes a prognostication about whether the harvest will be a good one or not. A young couple who had just entered puberty earlier in the day was forced to engage in fornication in front of the entire community. This strange ritual represented the soil's fertility, guaranteeing a good harvest. However, given that the bulk of the local population is Christian, it is not currently practised.