Celebrated In: India
Moatsu Mong is one of the main festivals in Nagaland, which refers to the end of sowing. The Ao tribes of Nagaland celebrate this festival to please the gods for the better harvest. The meaning of Moatsu is basically the fencing of the paddy, in which Mo refers to paddy and atsu refers to fence. The traditional festival, Moatsu Mong is celebrated after completing the main tasks of the community like sowing, cleaning the ponds in the villages, the construction and repairing of houses. On the occasion of the festival all the houses in the village are cleaned and decorated.
Mokokchung comes alive with the Motasu Mong festival which involves several dance performances and songs, feasting and merry-making. Originally the traditional festival of Ao tribes was celebrated for 6 days, but now the Moatsu Mong is celebrated for three days.
The Ao tribes of Nagaland treat Moatsu Mong as the perfect occasion to strengthen their friendship with neighbouring tribes, for which several delegates are invited from neighbouring villages and exchange of gifts takes place between them. This is a fruitful effort among the tribes to establish peace and harmony among each other.