17 January
A total of 49 tourists visited the 2019 Naga New Year Festival in Leshi Town in the Naga Self-administered Zone of Sagaing Region on 15 January, according to the Sagaing Region’s Department of Immigration and Population.
This year, 33 men and 16 women from countries such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, France, Israel, the US, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, South Korea, and Spain joined the Naga New Year festivities.
“Tourists mostly visit Leshi in the travelling season. Over 40 tourists visited the festival this year.
There are few tourists during the remaining seasons,” said U Kyaw Soe Moe, official from the Department of Immigration and Population in Sagaing Region.
According to records of the department, the number of tourists to Leshi Township totalled 7 in 2011, 37 in 2012, 21 in 2013, 19 in 2014, 59 in 2015, 39 in 2017, and 63 in 2018.
As part of the festival, which falls on 15 January, ethnic hill tribes turn out in full traditional costumes in the afternoons and evenings, proving a big draw for photographers, both from home and abroad.
The annual festival is held for two days each January. The first day is set aside for traditional dance rehearsals, and the proper festival takes place on the second day.—Win Oo (Zeyar Tine)
(Translated by La Wonn)
