Assam: Sema Naga community gears up for Tuluni festival on July 8, demands official holiday status

The vibrant and culturally rich Tuluni Festival of the Sema Naga community will be celebrated with great zeal on July 8 in the Tirap Tribal Belt of Assam’s 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly Constituency, located in Tinsukia district.

Celebrated annually on the same date, Tuluni—also known as Anni, marking the season of abundance—is the largest traditional festival of the Sema Naga people worldwide. It signifies a time of new crops, joy, and communal harmony. Traditionally observed with feasts, folk rituals, and prayers for a bountiful harvest, the festival is also a time for mending broken ties and fostering unity.

This year’s main celebration will take place at the historic Longtong Sema village, situated just 50 km from the Myanmar border. Established in 1904 and visited by former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2003, the village remains a stronghold of Sema culture and heritage.

The festival will witness the presence of Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister Bimal Borah, Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma, and other dignitaries, along with community leaders, scholars, and over 5,000 attendees from across the region.

Also Read: "Anyone can apply for government benefits": Assam CM defends aid to minister’s wife

Despite the growing scale and cultural significance of Tuluni, the Sema community has expressed disappointment that their long-standing demand to declare July 8 as a restricted state holiday remains unfulfilled. "We’ve submitted multiple memorandums, but have received no assurances yet," said Kahoto Sema, president of the All Assam Sema Naga Council.

The festival will see participation from Sema villagers across Saliki, Paharpur, Lalpahar, Balijan, Tinkupather, and Longtong, home to more than 9,000 Sema people in the Margherita constituency alone.

With traditional songs, dances, prayers, and communal feasting on the agenda, the Tuluni Festival 2025 promises to be a powerful showcase of unity, heritage, and cultural pride—and a moment of renewed appeal for official recognition