Tuluni Festivals

The sowing season in Nagaland ends with a festive note. July, the fag-end of the season keeps the Sumi Nagas festive. The colourful tribe, known for their unique culture and tradition, celebrate their much vaunted Tuluni festival to mark the end of the season of back breaking cultivation period. Literally, “Tuluni” stands for rice beer. Some of the Sumi tribe people call it “anni’ which means the season of plenteous crops. Thus, rice beer dominate the festival apart from traditional songs and dances which revives the pledge to strengthen their communal harmony. The mid-year event is an occasion to celebrate their agricultural abundance in the state.

Apart from rice beer, prayers and offerings to Litsaba are allowed to dominate the festival. The special deity help them boost the fruitfulness and safety of the crops.
The striking part of the event is a goblet. Made of plantain leaves, the goblet is used to serve the rice beer.

The interesting feature of the event is the meeting of fiancé and finacee. The former invites the latter to a place where gifts are exchanged. Even the engaged couples share delicious foods with love songs in their lips as the Sumi tribe is known for songs and ballads. Apart from these activities or formalities, the farming community of the Sumis enjoy the occasion with a group feast accompanied by fun and frolics. The popular game that delights the domestic and foreign tourists is the Meat Eating Competition.

A huge slice of pork is hung from the ceiling. Those joining the competition need to consume the largest chunk and the winner is awarded. The principal part of the festival is observed at dzükou tribal kitchen. The mouth-watering special dish comprises pork in bamboo shoot, chicken(or) beef curry, boiled vegetables, potato etsue, steamed rice and dry fish chutney.