Lui-Ngai-Ni
15 Feb, 2026
Sunday
Lui-Ngai-Ni on
(15-02-2026)
Lui Ngai Ni Seasonal Festival
Lui Ngai Ni a seasonal festival, a seed sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes of Manipur, India. This festival marks the beginning of the seed sowing season and marks the beginning of the year for the Nagas and the festival was declared a state holiday since 1988.
The Meaning of Lui Ngai Ni
The word "Lui - Ngai - Ni" is derived from three different Naga languages."Lui" comes from "luiraphanit", a Tangkhul word for seed sowing festival, "ngai" means festival in the Rongmei language and "ni" is a Mao word for seed sowing festival.
A Special Occasion Honour of Harvest God
This festival is a special occasion to honour and propitiate the harvest gods and pray for the well-being of the people. Various cultural activities are performed during the festival like cultural dances and songs, which include various cultural costume shows, burning of fire, drumming, traditional folk dances, and songs.
Lui-Ngai-Ni festival is celebrated in all the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur; However, the main festival is organized in turn in the Naga inhabited district headquarters namely Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel.
This festival is a unique event to honour and satisfy the divine powers of the produce and to appeal to God for the prosperity of the general population. Various social activities are performed amidst the celebration, for example, cultural dances and tunes, which feature various social costumes, Lighting of fire, beating of drums etc. are included. All the tribes come together in unity and showcase their culture and identity which strengthens their bond of brotherhood.
When is Lui Ngai Ni in 2026?
Lui Ngai Ni falls on 15th February 2026, Sunday.
