Regional/Cultural Day
Naga Hnit Thit Pwe
The Naga people, an ethnic minority living in the remote mountains of northwest Myanmar, celebrate their new year with a festival that features traditional Naga dances, the sacrifice of buffalo and cattle, and the drinking of rice wine through long bamboo straws. The Naga are known for their elaborate facial tattoos and their tradition of head-hunting, which was practiced until the mid-20th century. The festival takes place in the town of Lahe in the Naga Self-Administered Zone, and it draws visitors who come to witness one of the most ancient cultural traditions in Southeast Asia. The Naga were among the last ethnic groups in Myanmar to be contacted by the outside world.