Naga New Year Festival, Myanmar

For two nights in January, the Naga tribespeople of Sagaing Region in Myanmar’s far north come together to celebrate their traditional new year. The Khamti, Lashe, Lahe, and Nanyun Naga communities take turns hosting the celebrations. 49 different clans travel across long distances, braving Sagaing’s mountainous terrain to make it to the festivities. On midnight, the Naga chief leads a prayer before the ceremonial bonfire, then lets the celebrations commence. With an abundance of meats and rice wine on hand, the Naga dance, sing, and show off their fine clothes decorated with silver bangles, hornbill plumes, boar teeth, goat’s tails, and buffalo horns. (Myanmar Tourism Ministry)