Naga Tribal Wedding

The Land and the People

Naga tribal weddings are held by the Naga tribes of Nagaland. Some Naga people also live in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Nagaland is a land of green hills, deep valleys and small villages. The Nagas are known for their bravery, their colourful dress and their love of song and dance.

There are around sixteen major tribes, such as Angami, Ao, Sema, Lotha and Konyak. Each tribe has its own dress, songs and customs. Most Nagas today are Christians, so church weddings are common. Old tribal customs are still kept alive in many parts.

How Long the Wedding Lasts

A Naga wedding usually takes one to three days. The families may take a longer time to talk and agree on the match. The wedding is an event for the whole village. The days are filled with prayers, feasts and songs.

Before the Wedding

The families first meet and agree on the match. The elders of both sides talk about the young couple. They check that the couple is not from the same clan. Elders of both families exchange gifts. The gifts may be cloth, food, or local items.

In many tribes, the groom’s family gives a small bride price. It is a sign of respect for the bride’s family. It is often given as a gift, in the form of animals or cloth. It is kept simple. The families do not treat it as a payment, and they take care to keep good relations.

The Wedding Day

A church or village elder blesses the couple. In Christian families, the pastor leads the ceremony. He reads prayers and gives advice to the couple. In old tribal families, a village elder says the blessings. The elders offer prayers to the ancestors and to nature.

On the wedding day, the couple exchanges vows in the church. The bride and groom stand before the pastor, and they say their promises. They exchange rings. Their families sit around them. The guests sing hymns and pray. The church is often full.

In some tribes, old rituals with village elders and prayers are still followed. The elders bless the couple with words of wisdom. The whole village joins the wedding feast. The feast is held in the open, in the village square or the home of the bride. Songs and folk dances are performed for the couple. The dancers wear bright dress and sing in groups.

Clothes and Jewelry

The bride and groom often wear the special shawl and beads of their own tribe. Each tribe has its own patterns in the cloth, and people can tell the tribe by the shawl. Some also wear traditional headgear with feathers. The bride wears many strings of beads, and the groom may wear a necklace and a headgear made of bamboo. Some couples wear a white gown and a suit for the church, and change into tribal dress for the feast.

Food, Music and Fun

The feast has rice, pork with bamboo shoot and local rice beer. Many families also serve smoked meat and spicy chutney. The food is cooked in big pots over an open fire. Bamboo shoots give a sour and fresh taste. The chutney is made from fiery chilli, and it is very spicy. The songs and dances are the heart of the celebration. The Naga folk songs are sung in groups. A Naga tribal wedding is a joyful mix of faith, tradition and togetherness.