Festivals of Northeast India by month, the full calendar

Quick answer: The Northeast runs on festivals, one or more every month. The anchors: Hornbill (December, Nagaland), Ziro Festival of Music (September, Arunachal), Moatsü (May, Mokokchung), Aoleang (April, Mon), Sekrenyi (February, Kohima region) and Bihu (April, Assam). Here’s the whole year, month by month.

The calendar

• January: Bushu (Kachari, Assam-Nagaland border), Magh Bihu (Assam), Losar-tibetan New Year in Monasteries (Tawang side), Nagaland’s Chümoukedima-area church festivals.
• February: Sekrenyi (Angami, Kohima region, the big one), Hega (Zeliang, Peren), Losar continues in Arunachal’s monasteries.
• March: Yaoshang (Manipur’s Holi, when open), Bihu preparations, spring treks open.
• April: Aoleang (Konyak, Mon), Bihu (Assam, the state dance-fest), Monyü (Phom, Longleng), Sangken water festival (Khamti/Tai communities).
• May: Moatsü (Ao, Mokokchung), Tsükhenyie (Chakhesang, Phek), Miu (Khiamniungan, Noklak), Shirui Lily bloom (Ukhrul, Manipur, status permitting).
• June: monsoon begins; Dzükou lilies start; Aoleang-adjacent village feasts; green-season travel.
• July: Tuluni (Sümi, Zunheboto), Naknyulem (Chang, Tuensang), Anishi and food festivals in Ao villages.
• August: Metemneo (Yimkhiung, Shamator), Independence-day community games, monsoon photography.
• September: Ziro Festival of Music (usually late September, Arunachal), the indie-music pilgrimage; Amongmong nears (Sangtam).
• October: Amongmong (Sangtam), Yemshe (Pochury, Meluri), Amur falcons arrive at Doyang (Wokha), Durga Puja across Assam, dry season begins.
• November: Tokhu Emong (Lotha, Wokha), Ngada (Rengma, Tseminyü), Chavang Kut (Kuki), Hega-adjacent village feasts, Tôhlü (Tikhir), Kaziranga opens.
• December: Hornbill Festival (Dec 1–10, everything, everywhere, packages here), Christmas in the Christian states (Nagaland/Mizoram/Meghalaya are magical in December), Tokhu Emong tails.

How to plan around it

One anchor festival + one slow circuit = the perfect Northeast trip. December = Hornbill + Meghalaya. April = Bihu + Aoleang. May = Moatsü + orchids. See the full Nagaland calendar for the tribal details, and build your dates on WhatsApp, we’ll match the calendar to your leave.