The Bongvum festival is celebrated by the Phom tribe of
Nagaland. This festival is celebrated after a major harvest, usually during the month of October.
Various rituals are performed during the festival day to express gratitude to the gods for providing the people with a good harvest. Animals are sacrificed and their warm blood is sprinkled on the surface of bamboo pails containing food grains.
On this day, rice is cooked in a sticky manner. Meat mixed with prawns, crabs, dried bamboo shoots and ginger is prepared. The cooked food is then wrapped in leaves and tied to the main post of the house.
A special ritual, using the intestine of a hen, is performed to predict the future of the family. This ritual is performed by the head of the family.
