Discover India's Northeast

08/10/2025

“India’s First Green Village”

Khonoma, a village in Nagaland, about 20 km from the state capital Kohima, is home to the Angami Nagas. This beautiful place was recognised as India’s first green village in 2005 for the conservation efforts of the Angamis, who banned hunting and logging in the area in the late 1990s.
The village is also renowned for its distinctive local crafts, especially basketry of cane and bamboo. Often referred to as a ‘warrior village,’ Khonoma is remembered for its strong resistance against British colonial forces. With its rich natural resources, history, and vibrant culture, Khonoma stands out as one of the most visited destinations in Nagaland.

(Photo Credits: Mireuyi Herie, Nepali Gandhi, Tshetsholo Naro, Neelima Mishra, Suresh Selvaraj, Ritu Varuni)


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28/09/2025

INTRODUCING THE NORTHEAST
I had the privilege of giving the keynote address at the Heritage Festival in Ohio, USA. Here is my recorded presentation that was screened at the event. It's a vivid introduction to our amazing Northeast region to an international audience.

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28/09/2025

CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE

It’s such a rewarding and wonderful feeling to share our tangible and intangible heritage, especially with a curious, receptive, and appreciative audience on foreign soil.

This month, on 19-20, Discover India’s Northeast participated in a pioneering two-day cultural event in Ohio, USA, celebrating the diverse and rich history, culture, handlooms, handicrafts, cuisine, and music of Northeast India.

Conceptualised by Himalayan Folkways, it was the first-of-its-kind Northeast Heritage festival in the United States. A deliberately small and low-key affair to foster a more genuine and free-flowing exchange of viewpoints, the North East India Heritage Festival was a very open and engaging event driven by experts from different fields, and passionate volunteers eager to share the Northeast story.
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13/09/2025

NORTHEAST FEST IN THE UNITED STATES

Discover India’s Northeast is proud to be associated with the first Northeast India Heritage Festival (NEIHF) to be held in Columbus, Ohio (USA) on September 19 and 20, 2025.
Conceptualised by Himalayan Folkways, this first-of-its-kind Northeast festival in the US will showcase the history, culture, handloom and handicrafts, food, and musical instruments of Northeast India.
Discover India's Northeast—the only national magazine dedicated exclusively to India’s eight Northeastern states—will present a powerful photographic exhibition capturing the region’s rich diversity and vibrant spirit. Each image tells a unique story, offering a window into the people, culture, and landscapes that define the Northeast.
Along with the photo exhibition, there will be cultural performances, panel discussions, and presentations on tourism, commerce, and sustainable development in this lively region, which will help foster new connections and opportunities in Northeast India and the United States as well.
Local and national government representatives from India and the United States will be present.
So, invite your friends and business partners in the US to the event -- to experience the rich and diverse heritage of Northeast India.



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10/09/2025

GOLDEN PAGODA OF NAMSAI

Our visit to Namsai, the homeland of the Tai Khamti tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, was nothing short of a whirlwind. Though the trip was brief and packed, the early morning walk through the tranquil Golden Pagoda complex in Tengapani was incredibly refreshing — a moment of peace amid the rush.
An iconic landmark of Namsai, the Golden Pagoda — known locally as Kongmu Kham — is a magnificent Buddhist temple that serves as a centre for meditation and prayer. Built in the traditional Thai-Burmese architectural style, the pagoda is not only beautiful but also radiates a profound sense of spirituality and calm.
Just across from the Golden Pagoda stands the world’s tallest bamboo Buddha statue, Lubhamuni, soaring at 42.7 feet. Housed within the Vipassana Meditation premises, the statue was crafted by master artisans from Shan State, Myanmar, and is reverently known as Fra Sutongpey Lubhamuni.
Getting there was fairly straightforward. My friend and I took a one-hour flight from Guwahati to Dibrugarh, followed by a scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive through lush green fields and tea gardens straight into the heart of Namsai.



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02/09/2025

HEIKRU HIDONGBA: A FESTIVAL FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY

September is the time of year when the paddies turn a lush green, bursting into full blossom and hinting at a bountiful harvest. Wild fruits on the hillocks mellow, shedding their bitterness, ready to be savoured. Farmers, recognizing the signs of abundance, pause to celebrate the fruits of their labour.
Among the Meiteis of Manipur, this celebration takes the form of Heikru Hidongba—literally translated as gooseberry rowing (Heikru meaning gooseberry, Hidongba meaning riding on a boat). The tradition began during the reign of King Irengba in 984 AD and is observed every year on the 11th day of the Manipuri month of Langban. This year, it falls on 3rd September.
The festival is held to invoke the blessings of the deity Ebudhou Pakhangba, with offerings that include garlands made of fresh gooseberries and rice. These are presented in a ritual before the day's main event—the exhilarating Hiyang Tanaba, or traditional boat race—held at various venues across the valley.
Following the introduction of Hinduism in Manipur, a reimagined version of Heikru Hidongba also began to be celebrated in temples. According to records from the Sri Bijoy Govindaji Temple, the festival was first performed in the temple's moat in 1779, in honour of Shri Bijoy Govindaji. Today, this version blends elements of the ancient Meitei tradition with features of Vaishnavism, such as sankirtan and aarti.

(Photos by Ronel Seram and Caesar Singh Ch.)


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26/08/2025

PANG LHABSOL: A HOMAGE TO KHANGCHENDZONGA

Pang Lhabsol is a unique Sikkimese festival that pays homage to Mount Khangchendzonga, the world’s third-highest peak and the highest mountain in India. Revered as the guardian deity of Sikkim, Khangchendzonga is honoured alongside other local deities during this vibrant celebration.
The festival also commemorates the historic Blood Brotherhood Treaty of the 15th century, a symbolic pact of peace and unity between the Lepcha and Bhutia communities—two of Sikkim’s major ethnic groups.
Counted among Sikkim’s most significant cultural festivals, Pang Lhabsol features the striking Pangtoed Chaam, a sacred masked warrior dance. Key characters include a dancer representing Khangchendzonga and another as Mahakala, the guardian of dharma.
The festival, which typically lasts for three days, takes place in various monasteries across the state, with Tsuklakhang Monastery in Gangtok serving as a primary venue. The celebrations also include traditional Sikkimese cuisine, cultural performances, and colourful carnivals, drawing locals and visitors alike.
This year, Pang Lhabsol begins on 7th September.

(Photographs by Agniswar Kansabanik)


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19/08/2025

13/08/2025

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

At 6956 ft, Lepchajagat is a small, sleepy hamlet on the main road leading from Darjeeling to Mirik via the town of Sukhiapokhri. Earlier inhabited by the Lepchas, (people of eastern Nepal, western Bhutan, Sikkim, and Darjeeling) and hence the name Lepcha-jagat, with ‘jagat’ meaning world; it was subsequently taken over by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation.

Being part of the larger reserve forest area and surrounded by pine, oak, and rhododendron forests, it holds a sizable number of leopards, the shy and elusive yellow-throated martens, barking deer, and, reportedly, some Himalayan black bears, as well as a rich birdlife. From the hilltop of this tranquil village, one can enjoy panoramic views of the majestic snow-capped Mt Kanchendzonga. The best time to visit Lepchajagat is from October to April.

Photos by Pralay Lahiry



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03/08/2025

BUTTERFLIES OF BARAMURA

Baramura Hills have some of the deepest forests and uncharted hilly regions of Tripura. Located 35 km from the capital city of Agartala, this hill range conceals immense natural treasures that reveal new surprises with every passing moment. The many streams that criss-cross the hills are an excellent site for butterfly lovers.
Hundreds of common and mottled emigrants can be seen puddling mud on the rocky banks of the rivulets. Chestnut Angel, Assam Black Prince, Spotted Jester, Common Crow, Common Nawab, Long-banded Silverline and the Yamfly are some of the frequently seen species. A handful of significant recent records include the Thai White Dragontail, Jewel Nawab, the Khashi Dark Archduke and the Sunbeam.

The whole of Baramura, indeed, is famous for its butterflies. Winter is the best season to observe them.

(Text and photographs by Dev Dipankar)



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22/07/2025

THE FALLS THAT WILL LIFT YOU
Romancing the stunning waterfalls of Meghalaya…



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19/06/2025

AMBUBACHI MELA, 22nd - 26th JUNE, 2025

Photos by Shruti Sarma



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