Bushu Festival January 27

The festival is celebrated in the last week of January. It marks the beginning of the post-harvest season. People worship Sibrai once a year before sowing paddy for the next crop. Various offerings are made to the Sibrai deity as a token of gratitude. Many other ceremonies and rituals are performed by the people. An intricate gate called Phangsla is propelled at the entrance of the village. People offer meat, grains and beer to the Sibrai deity.

The religious rituals are then preceded by a huge feast which is then followed by drumming, music and dancing. Gajaibao, the selected leader leads the festival. People work together in harmony to prepare a grand feast for the entire village. People enjoy delicious food at the festival. They drink, dance and sing too. The festival is considered among the popular festivals of Nagaland.

The festival is divided into three categories and the duration of the festival therefore varies accordingly. Busu Jidap is observed for three days. Surem Baino is observed for five days. And finally, Hangseu Manaoba is observed for seven days or nights.

Busu Jidap originates from the first category of celebrations that last up to three days. The first two days are called mi-staiba and Busuma respectively. On the first day, animals are slaughtered under the direction of Gaonbura and the purchased meat is used for the feast. At dusk, singing and dancing contests called baiba are held.

On the second day, children and young people pay homage to their elders and parents. On the last day, boys and girls walk around the village visiting each house with music and dancing for company. Each household brings an ingenious token or raw materials that can be used in the preparation of another feast.

Surem Baino is celebrated for five days. The Gajaibao resides on the festival. A Gajaiboa is chosen especially for Surem Baino days before the festival celebration. There is very little difference shared by Busu Jidap and Surem Baino. The festival is celebrated in the courtyard of the chaperoned Gajaibao with dancing, singing and musical instruments.

Hangseu Manaoba is the most prestigious of the three categories. It is celebrated for seven days or nights. It is celebrated by the whole village which has many young hands working hard to make the festivities go on for seven days. During this long holiday with a constant and continuous rhythm of drum beats (Khrams) and trumpets (Muree). The villagers collect funds before the festival for the big feast. The celebrations include essentially the same: singing, dancing and feasting.