Festival and fairs of Itanagar


Losar Festival

The Losar Festival is the beginning of the New Year according to the Monpa calendar. This 15 day festival falls in January/February. The highlights of the festival are the colouful Aji Lhamu dance, Lion and Peacock dance and the Yak dance, the festival is marked by prayers, hoisting of religious flags atop the homes, reading of Buddhist scriptures, and lighting butter lamps in the houses

Reh festival
this festival is mainly associated with the Idu Mishimis. The special attraction of the six-day celebrations is the priest dance.

Tamladu festival

Tamladu, the Digaru Mishimis offer prayers to the God of the Earth and the God of the Water. It is essentially celebrated by the Digaru Mishis tribe. During the festival, prayers are offered to the god of the earth and the god of the waters for protection against natural calamities. The supreme - Lord Jebmalu, is worshipped for the prosperity and welfare of human being, the standing crops and domestic animals.

Khan festival

Khan is significant because of a ceremony where the priest ties a piece of wool around everybody's neck, khan festival, an occasion for the reunion of the people. Besides the usual festivities, the significance of the festival lies in the ceremony whereby the priest ties a piece of wool around everybody's neck. The belief is that the enchanted thread will bring good luck to each of them.


Mopin festival

Smearing of rice powder on each others faces marks the beginning of the festival which is celebrated for five days for the prosperity and happiness of the people.


The Sanken festival

It is an occasion to bathe the images of Lord Buddha ceremoniously. People sprinkle water on each other as a sign of merriment, while smearing of rice powder on each other's face marks the beginning of the five-day celebrations of Mopin.