Naga New Year Festival

နာဂနှစ်သစ်ကူးပွဲတော်

View on map
MusicLeshi/Lahe/Nanyun
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival's defining feature is its role
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: MMK
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Naga New Year Festival in Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun

The Naga New Year Festival is a three-day celebration, usually January 15 to 17, that rotates annually among Leshi, Lahe and Nanyun townships in the Naga Self-Administered Zone of Sagaing Region. Held after the harvest and before the new farming season, it brings together more than forty-nine Naga clans in traditional dress adorned with silver bangles, hornbill feathers, plumes and boar teeth for shared dances and feasts.

In the far northwest of Myanmar, along the mountainous border with India, live the Naga peoples, a collection of more than forty-nine distinct clans spread across Sagaing Region's Naga Self-Administered Zone.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival's defining feature is its role as a gathering point for one of Myanmar's most distinct indigenous communities: more than forty-nine Naga clans, each with its own dialect and customs, travel across difficult mountainous terrain to take part, making the event a rare occasion when the breadth of Naga identity becomes visible in one place

02

The mystery stays covered

Clothing carries particular weight here, with dancers wearing silver bangles, hornbill feathers, decorative plumes and boar teeth that signal status and clan identity within Naga culture, an animist and folk tradition distinct from Buddhist observances more common elsewhere in Myanmar

03

The city starts moving

Because the host town rotates each year among Leshi, Lahe and Nanyun, the festival also functions as a shared responsibility passed between communities rather than fixed at one permanent site

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival is an indigenous

Water and renewal

Living ritual

animist folk tradition specific to Naga ethnic communities

The sacred route

Living ritual

distinct from mainstream Buddhist practice elsewhere in Myanmar

The local code

Living ritual

Clan groups perform traditional dances in dress featuring silver bangles

Tradition 5

Living ritual

hornbill feathers

Tradition 6

Living ritual

plumes and boar teeth

Tradition 7

Living ritual

elements that carry meaning tied to status

Tradition 8

Living ritual

clan identity and ancestral custom within Naga culture

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Use the event area in Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun to set the route; normal travel times can stretch once crowds build.

What to wear

This is an indigenous Naga folk celebration, not a Buddhist pagoda festival, and there is no pagoda-style modest dress requirement. Practical, warm, sturdy clothing and footwear suited to...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

MMK

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map26.20 N, 95.09 EOpen in Google Maps

Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun, Sagaing Region, Myanmar

Nearest airportJRH — Jorhat
TransportUse the event area in Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun to set the route; normal travel times can stretch once crowds build.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearThis is an indigenous Naga folk celebration, not a Buddhist pagoda festival, and there is no pagoda-style modest dress requirement. Practical, warm, sturdy clothing and footwear suited to mountainous terrain and January cold is more relevant than formal or religious dress. Visitors should dress respectfully but comfortably for outdoor, high-altitude conditions.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Myanmar and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Naga New Year Festival?

Naga New Year Festival is listed for Past edition: 14–16 January 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Naga New Year Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun, Myanmar. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Leshi/Lahe/Nanyun, Sagaing Region, Myanmar

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLtourism.gov.mm
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusOfficial source linked
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