If you only visit the Northeast once, make it between November and January. The monsoon has packed up, the skies are clear, oranges are in season and every state seems to have a party going on. Here is our running list. Exact dates are announced by state tourism departments and organisers each year, so confirm before booking anything non-refundable.
Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival · Meghalaya
When: usually November. Shillong’s Himalayan cherry trees bloom pink in autumn, not spring, and the city leans into it with music, food stalls and an alarming number of photos. Go early in the day before the crowds.
Wangala, the 100 Drums Festival · Meghalaya
When: usually November, near Tura in the Garo Hills. Wangala is the Garo post-harvest festival thanking Saljong, the sun god. Expect rows of drummers, dancers in feathered headgear and a sound you feel in your chest.
Sangai Festival · Manipur
When: typically late November in and around Imphal. Named after the sangai, Manipur’s brow-antlered deer, the festival showcases Manipuri classical dance, martial arts like thang-ta, handlooms, food and polo, a game Manipur proudly claims as its own.
Hornbill Festival · Nagaland
When: 1 to 10 December, every year, at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama near Kohima. The “festival of festivals” brings together Naga tribes in one place: morungs, songs, dances, indigenous games, a night market and one of the country’s best-known music events. Accommodation in Kohima fills up months in advance, so book now, or stay in a village homestay.
Bhogali (Magh) Bihu · Assam
When: mid-January. The harvest Bihu is all about feasting. Communities build meji bonfire structures and makeshift huts, cook through the night and eat pitha and laru until nobody can move.
Also on our radar
- Losar in Tawang and Sikkim, the Tibetan New Year, usually February or March.
- Chapchar Kut in Mizoram, the spring festival, usually March.
- Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh, usually late September, for next year’s plans.
Festival etiquette: many of these events include rituals and sacred elements. Follow photography rules, dress warmly and modestly, and always ask before taking close-up portraits.
Organising an event in the Northeast? Send details to contact@lifeinnortheast.com and we will consider it for our listings.
Quick answers
When is the Hornbill Festival?
The Hornbill Festival is held from 1 to 10 December every year at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, near Kohima in Nagaland.
When is the Sangai Festival in Manipur?
The Sangai Festival usually takes place in late November in and around Imphal. Confirm exact dates with Manipur Tourism each year.
What is the Wangala festival?
Wangala is the Garo community’s post-harvest festival thanking Saljong, the sun god. The 100 Drums Wangala Festival is usually held in November near Tura in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Shillong?
Shillong’s Himalayan cherry trees bloom in autumn, usually around November, which is when the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival is held.