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Naga
 The Chin and the Naga compose about 3 % of the population of
Myanmar. Most of Naga people live in India, such as Naga Land of
northwest India, states of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. On
Myanmar side of the border live much smaller population of some
100,000 Nagas. They spread around western Sagaing Division, from
Patkoi range in north to Thaungdyat in south, from Indian border
in west to River Chindwin in east.
Naga burn their field and grow rice, millet, corns, taro potato
and so on for cultivation. Some fields are terrace-styled for
growing rice and taros. Naga people live in the between Hukawang
valley and Assam, India had a custom of sacrificing boy or girl
slaves for the better autumn harvest.
 Men's tatoos indicate his villages and tribes. Women do not cover
their breasts either but wear tattoos since when they are little
girls in villages of animism. At some of Naga villages under
strong influences of Christianity or Burman culture, tatoos are
disappearing. Black carpet woven with black fur of dogs with red
rectangular-shapes embroideries used to be the typical design.
Today Naga people use wool instead of dog fur. Shells used in the
textiles with different pattern show the person's social status,
experience of head-hunting and wealth. Yet now the textile with
head-hunting glory pattern are inherited to the younger
generations who has never hunted and its meaning are becoming
history.
Festivals
Naga's biggest festival is new year festival of January, called
Kaing Bi and organized by Naga festival committee who choose each
year's festival location and details under the control of central
government. All Naga tribes send a few delegations to this
occasion, thus it is the perfect opportunity to see variety of
different Naga people at once.
 At the same festival one year before, midnight of new year's eve,
Naga chief made a pray pouring Naga wine at the festival site.
When the pray was over, youngsters killed cattle, pigs and
chickens with big knives, which were carried away by females and
cooked to be served as Naga dishes at the festival. When festival
starts, white and red Naga wine made of rice are served in bamboo
glasses. Before and after this grand festival, various villages of
Naga held their own small gatherings with children and others.
Naga Festival Itinerary
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