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Moatsu Festival is celebrated
by the Ao tribe of Nagaland.
Moatsu is celebrated in the first week of May every year. Various
rituals are performed during this period. The Aos observe Moatsü
Mong after the sowing is done. The Moatsu festival provides the Aos
a period of recreation and entertainment after the stressful work of
clearing fields, burning jungles and sowing seeds, cleaning up the
Tsubu (Wells) and repairs and construction of houses by elders of
the Putu Menden, stretching over a week. The Moatsu festival is
marked by peppy songs and dances. The whole festival with full of
merry making and fun is observed only for three days from 1st to 3rd
of May. During this festival one of the symbolic celebrations is
Sangpangtu, where a big fire is lit and men and women sit around it.
Men & women putting on the complete best attire and the womenfolk
serve the wine and meat. Righteous man who lives by the guidance of
the Almighty forecast whether good or evil days are awaiting the
people and the village by readings of the celebration of the Moatsü
festival.
The Customs & Rituals
The natural customary practice of the
forefathers was competing in making the best rice-beer and rearing
the best possible pigs and cows to be slaughtered during the
festival. The womenfolk weave the best of traditional garments and
adorn themselves with all their fineries. They join the men folk in
dancing, eating and drinking and composing warrior songs. Singing
songs in praise of the lover and the village as a whole is done and
the older men folk encourages the young people to be bold and heroic
to defend and protect them from enemies as head-hunting was
practiced during the fore-fathers time.
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