Northeast India · State
Nagaland
Sixteen-plus recognised tribes, each with its own language, weave and festival calendar, in hills along the Myanmar border.
- Capital
- Kohima
- Languages
- English (official); Nagamese; Ao, Angami, Konyak, Sumi and other languages — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Tribe-specific shawls whose stripes and motifs signal identity and achievement
- • Log-drum and folk-song traditions
- • Wood carving and bamboo craft
- • Community feasts and morung (youth dormitory) heritage
Major festivals
- Hornbill Festival — 1–10 December
- Sekrenyi (Angami) — February
- Moatsu (Ao) — May
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Each tribe has distinct shawls — for example the Angami loramhoushü and Ao tsungkotepsu
- • Women weave and wear wrap skirts (mekhala-style) in tribe-specific patterns
- • Headgear, beadwork and cane ornaments are worn at festivals rather than daily
Where to go
Show Nagaland on the explore mapSources & verify
- Nagaland Tourism (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.