NAGALAND :

   Nagaland, is to be founded in the north-east zone of India. It shares the international boundary with Burma and national boundary with Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. The state is predominantly dominated by Naga communities and hence, it forms a single cultural region generally definable by common cultural and linguistic traditions.

     The variations in the altitude, latitude, climate and soil have given rise to a diversity of forest types, ranging from tropical evergreen to temperate evergreen and the coniferous. Bamboo groves are extensive everywhere. Among the common species, mention may be made of the Naga Bhe and plants such as Mesuaferrea, Careyaarbotrea and Fiscus Electica. On the hill slopes are found oak, chestnut, birch, magnolia, cherry, maple, laurel and fig. Pine trees are found at high altitude areas, varying from 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Wild vegetables, roots, fruits and tubers are found in abundance throughout Nagaland. Nagaland constitutes a meeting ground for the sub-Himalayan, Indian, Chinese and Burmese type of fauna. Elephants, tigers, barking deer and sambar are found in different places through the state. Monkeys, jackals, wild buffaloes, wild pigs, bear and wild dogs are sparsely distributed through the Naga Hills. Among the ritually most valued species is Mithun. Other common species are lizards, toads, monitors.

     There are 14 tribes in Nagaland. The traditional faith, religious beliefs and practices of Naga tribes show signs of being animistic. There is a belief of a supreme creator of mankind, and many deities, ghosts and spirits of trees, rivers and hills. There are priests and medicine-men who placate these spirits, banish those who give diseases, attract those who help and guard, and also take the lead in the rites and festivals, which stimulate the processes of agriculture.

       Here are more or less identical fairs and festivals among the sections of the Angami, Sema, Lotha and Rengma Nagas. In the sphere of religion, the Rengma resemble the Angami and the Sema, and their festivals also roughly correspond. As among the Angami, there is a female first reaper, and stone pulling ceremony is practised. Every tribe has it's own festivals. Several festivals are connected with agricultural activities such as reaping, sowing and harvesting. Moastu festival is performed by Ao Naga in the month of May, after the sowing. Among the Lotha, pithi is the sacred specialist who performs all ceremonies and rituals. He inaugurates the sowing and harvesting. The Ao Naga celebrate many other festivals also, most of which are celebrated to mark the beginning and end of a particular agricultural activity. When crops are ready, the festival of Tsungremong is performed. Pigs are sacrificed during this ceremony, in honour of the deity, Lijaba. The other prominent festivals are Kuki Mimkut, Angami Sekrenyi,Phom Monyu, Konyak Aoling, Rengma Ngada and Zeliang Nga-Ngai.

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