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About Nagaland
Carved out of the Naga Hills - Tuesnsang Area, Nagaland is dominated by the Naga communities. This north-eastern state of India covers an area of 16,488 sq. km. and is home to a diversity of flora and fauna. The state is renowned for its quality handloom and handicrafts, including tribal shawls, Naga mekhelas (sarongs), Naga hand-bags, etc.
The Festival
Celebrated grandly during the second week of July, Tuluni Festival is the most important festival of the Sumi Nagas in Nagaland. Occurring in the bountiful season of the year, the festival is marked by extravagant feasting.
Sumis have two different tribe-heads, Swu and Tuku, but in general, the Sumis consider Tuluni as their most grand and important festival. On this occasion, rice beer is served in a goblet made with the leaf of plantain. This wine is called Tuluni. It is also called Anni, denoting the season of plentiful crops.
In this festival, young engaged couples get settled and exchange basketful of gifts. The fiancé is invited for a grand dinner at the fiancées residence. Siblings of the families of both the bride and groom, as well, exchange dinner and packed food and meats.
The cultivators normally work in groups, comprising of 20-30 members, including several women. For Anni, they remain involved in acquiring pigs or cows and slaughtering them. The flesh is then shared among the members, and the meat is used for group feast. During this grand feast, which is accompanied by delightful folk songs and ballads, new recruits are made to the group.
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