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| | #REDIRECT [[Aoleang]] |
| {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
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| The '''Aoling''' Festival (sometimes spelt as Aoleng) is a festival celebrated by the [[Konyak people|Konyak Naga]] people and held in the first week of April in the [[Mon, India|Mon]] district of [[Nagaland]], [[Northeast India|North East India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reviewne.com/aoleang-monyu-festival-the-konyaks-nagaland|title=Aoleang Monyu Festival of Nagaland|language=en-us|access-date=2016-07-12}}</ref>
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| The Konyak people are the largest of 17 officially recognized tribes in Nagaland and are the most well known due to their tradition of [[Headhunting|head hunting]]. The Konyak people are found in the [[Mon, India|Mon]] region of Nagaland and in neighboring [[Myanmar]] making these places the best to witness the Aoling Festival.
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| The Aoling Festival celebrates the arrival of spring and prays for a good upcoming harvest. The celebrations are held in the first week of April and coincide with the start of the Konyak New Year. However, dates can change as the festival is celebrated in villages across the district with no defined schedule. You have to ask around about where and when events are taking place when you get there.
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| The Aoling Festival differs from the more famous [[Hornbill Festival]] which is usually held from 1–7 December and takes place at the Kisama Heritage Village which is 12 km from Nagaland’s capital [[Kohima]]. The Hornbill Festival is a major tourist attraction and is arranged by the Tourism and Art & Culture Departments to preserve the cultures of all the different tribes in Nagaland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://goindia.about.com/od/festivalinformation/p/hornbill-festival-guide.htm|title=Visiting the Nagaland Hornbill Festival? Read This Guide|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
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| The Aoling Festival differs from the Hornbill Festival as it in an authentic tribal festival arranged by the Konyak tribe only.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.global-gallivanting.com/aoling-festival-in-nagaland-the-authentic-untouristy-alternative-to-the-hornbill-festival/|title=Aoling Festival in Nagaland: The authentic, untouristy alternative to the Hornbill Festival|date=2016-07-14|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> The celebrations for the Aoling Festival are spread across a week. The main purpose of the Aoling Festival is to welcome in the spring and new year and to pray for a good harvest. During the Aoling Festival many rituals take place including dancing, feasting and sacrifices that are meant to appease the divine spirits in order to bless the land with a good harvest.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://morungexpress.com/significance-of-konyak-aoleang/|title=Significance of Konyak Aoleang|date=2015-04-06|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
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| The first 3 days of the Aoling festival are called ''Hoi Lah Nyih'', ''Yin Mok Pho Nyih'' and ''Mok Shek Nyih.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thegreenerpastures.com/aoling-festival-konyak-tribe-mon-nagaland-tour|title=Experience Aoling Festival of the Konyak Tribe {{!}} Nagaland Tourism|website=www.thegreenerpastures.com|access-date=2016-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723025100/http://www.thegreenerpastures.com/aoling-festival-konyak-tribe-mon-nagaland-tour|archive-date=23 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> These days are spent preparing for the festival by weaving traditional cloths, collecting the animals that will be sacrificed and preparing food and rice beer for the festival.
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| The fourth day, known as ''Lingnyu Nyih,'' is the most important day of the Aoling festival in which all the members of the Konyak tribe dress up in their best colorful traditional tribal clothes and jewellery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nelive.in/nagaland/art-culture/aoling-festival-konyak-tribe|title=Aoling Festival of the Konyak Tribe|date=2016-04-03|access-date=2016-07-12}}</ref> The fourth day is the most interesting to watch as the whole day is spent dancing, singing and feasting as a community and the indigenous dances that they perform symbolize the tribe's history as headhunters.<ref name=":0" />
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| The final two days of the festival are called ''Lingha Nyih'' and ''Lingshan Nyih.'' This time is dedicated to spending time with family and cleaning the whole village and also individual houses.<ref name=":0" />
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| [[Category:Festivals in Nagaland]]
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| [[Category:Mon district]]
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