The Nocte are an ethnic Naga tribe primarily residing in Arunachal Pradesh, India, numbering approximately 111,679 individuals as per the 2011 Census.¹ They are mainly found in the Patkai hills of Tirap district. Ethnically related to the Konyak Naga, their origins can be traced back to the Hukong Valley in Myanmar, from where they migrated between 1670 and 1700.²
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The Nocte societal structure is characterized by the authority of their chiefs, originally known as Ang or Raja (with 'Raja' being a Vaishnavism influence).³ These chiefs exert control over the village with the assistance of their council, the "Ngoang-Wang" (akin to a modern-day cabinet). Lacking a standing army, they consulted trusted family members (lowang-tang) on important matters. The Chief also seeks advice from village elders and priests on all significant socio-religious ceremonies.⁴
Religion
The Nocte historically practiced Theravada Buddhism and Animism. However, they adopted Hinduism in the 18th century under the influence of Shri Shankardeva, which brought them closer to the Hindu culture prevalent in much of India.⁵ Despite this, the 1961 census still reported some Buddhists among the Nocte.⁶
Lotha Khonbao, the first chief or Ang of Namsang & Borduria, was renowned for his spirituality. The first Ang of the Nocte Naga was named "Narottam" by Sri Ram, the Gukhai of the Bare Ghar Satra, and he followed Vaishnavism Hinduism. In 1972, Lieutenant Governor Colonel K.A.A. Raja honored the first King of Nocte Naga by naming Namsang-mukh as 'Narottam Nagar,' where the renowned RK Mission is now established, funded by the Namsang-Borduria Fund (derived from the revenue generated from the reserved forest of the Namsang and Borduria people). A photograph of the chief and his wife is also preserved in the British Archive Museum.⁷
Traditionally, the Nocte Naga believed in Nature worship, identifying all cosmic power as 'Jauban' and offering worship to it. Their animistic religiosity shared similarities with "Native American" beliefs. They believed that after death, the spirit of a mighty Chief would transform into 'Laa' or a mighty Eagle. Both malevolent and benevolent deities are also worshipped, with offerings of food and water given to appease them.⁸ The Nocte also deeply adhere to the virtues of the Barghariya Satra in addition to their traditional 'Jauban' beliefs. A Mahantas (priest) conducts the religious ceremonies.⁹
More recently, Baptist missionaries have converted approximately one-fifth to one-third of the Nocte population to Christianity, primarily those living in Khonsa. A Buddhist Channel in 2010 claimed that there were no Christians in Arunachal Pradesh province in 1951, suggesting that this conversion to Christianity largely occurred in the latter half of the 20th century and continued into the 21st century.¹⁰
Culture
"Chalo-Loku" is the most significant of the Nocte Naga's fourteen 'loku' (harvesting or thanksgiving festivals). While most 'loku' festivals last between one and two days, Chalo-Loku must span three days to complete all associated rituals.¹¹
Day 1: Involves the slaughter of cattle, entertainment, and the communal gathering of food.
Day 2 (Chamkatja): This day focuses on empowering the four distinct clans: "Lotung-som Cham," "Matey-som Cham," "Khetey-som Cham," and "Nook Pang-mi Cham." The Nook Pangmi-Cham warriors, known for their fierceness, are led by the "Tang-dong Lowang." Upon their return from the "Nook-Pangmi-Chaam," every village member, including the Chief and his family, must yield the right of way to these warriors. The warriors are then received by the Chief in his house for a powerful warrior dance, where they are offered the best rice beers. The first 'Cham-kat' of a young Chief involves joining the "Nook-Pangmi-Cham" under the care of "Tangdong-Lowang," rather than his own clan's 'Cham.'
Day 3 (Than-lang-jaa): Before the dances, 'Chin-lit' ceremonies are performed by the maternal family. As an act of blessing and to ward off evil spirits, female members of the maternal clan garland fresh single ginger necklaces. The "Woo-soak" ceremony is also performed on the last day by the chief, assisted by the 'tan-waa' (priest), village elders ("Ngoan-Wang"), and council members. During this ceremony, fresh eggs (the first being for the Chief and his family/clan) are tenderly poured onto specific leaves called "Nyap-lin," and the formation of the egg yolks is read to determine the fortunes of the new year. The second set of eggs is used to select the best 'jhum' (shifting cultivation) land for the upcoming season (Namsang & Borduria each have 12 properly earmarked jhum plots, and eggs are broken until the optimal land is indicated). After a jhum is selected, the council of wise men also assesses the prosperity for "Sala-jaah and Thingyan-Jaah." The last egg predicts good fortune for trading and labor contract work in the plains. The festival concludes with dancing around the village, singing romantic songs, culminating in the fast rhythmic movement known as the "Kepa-boong." During this dance, the chief singer invokes the holy spirit to bless the village until the next festivity.¹²
Food
The Nocte are primarily agriculturalists with a well-planned daily diet. Their staple food is rice, supplemented by main crops like maize, leafy vegetables, fish, and meat. A popular local liquor, brewed from rice, tapioca, and millet, is traditionally consumed, though tea has become more prevalent in recent times.¹³
Dress
Nocte men often shave the front part of their heads, tying the back tuft of hair into a chignon above the nape. Women keep their long auburn hair tied into a bun at the back of the neck; however, widows cut their hair short if they choose not to remarry. Similar to the Wancho tribe, Nocte individuals traditionally tattoo their faces and bodies.¹⁴
Due to the humid climate, men wear a loincloth in front with cane belts as waistbands. They also adorn their limbs with bamboo slips and armlets made of ivory. Women typically wear a short cotton skirt extending from the waist to the knees and a blouse covering the upper body. Goats' horns are used as earlobes, and other ornaments include metal bangles and earrings.¹⁵
Lifestyle
Nocte houses are constructed on silts (raised platforms), while the chief's houses are distinguished by their construction with carved massive blocks and wooden pillars. Separated dormitories are provided for bachelors and unmarried women.¹⁶
Traditionally, these dormitories serve as places where elders impart knowledge of traditional mythology, folklore, and religion to the younger generations. Among Christian families, particularly Catholic converts, Christian teachings are often integrated with traditional lessons. The chiefs are addressed by either of two titles: Namsang or Borduria.¹⁷
The bachelor's dormitory is known as a "Poh," while the bachelorette's dormitory is a "Yanpo." Although women are not permitted to enter the boys’ dormitory, the reverse is allowed. These dormitories are built on raised wooden piles, typically about four feet above the ground. Bachelors' dormitories were traditionally adorned with human skulls obtained from headhunting, which were also used to house large log drums carved from wooden logs. This drum is known as 'thum' or 'log-drum.' However, with the advent of Western education, these practices are observed to be in decline. Headhunting, once a prevalent practice among the Nocte, was officially banned in 1940, though the last recorded instance of headhunting among the related Wancho tribe was in 1991.¹⁸
Hygiene Issues and Modern Changes
Historically, the Nocte practiced an age-old tradition of keeping the bodies of deceased relatives in the open, either near a river or just outside their houses. Nocte Christians, like most Nocte, would keep bodies exposed for three days, although within the house.¹⁹
Inevitably, the decomposition of bodies in the open attracted bacteria, insects, and germs, leading to terrible stench and frequent outbreaks of health-threatening diseases. Due to public health education efforts by reformers, the burial of the deceased in proper coffins has completely replaced this traditional rite since 2004. Kheti village, located near Khonsa, was the last Nocte village to abandon this practice in modern Nocte society.²⁰
Notes
"Nocte," Wikipedia, accessed July 20, 2025,
. Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Jyotirindra Nath Chowdhury, Arunachal Through the Ages, from Frontier Tracts to Union Territory (Distributors, Chapala Book Stall, 1982), 35.
Nava Kishor Das, Ethnic Identity, Ethnicity, and Social Stratification in North-east India (New Delhi: Inter-India Publications, 1989), 38.
"Nocte," Wikipedia, accessed July 20, 2025,
. Parul Chandra Dutta, The Noctes (Directorate of Research, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, 1978), 12-13, 81.
Ibid.
"Buddhist channel article against Christian missionaries," Buddhist Channel, 2010, accessed July 20, 2025,
. "Nocte preserve their culture," The Arunachal Times, accessed July 20, 2025,
. Ibid.
"Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh," Arunachal Pradesh Tourism, archived from the original on December 14, 2006, accessed June 12, 2006.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
"Nocte tribesmen bury last rites," The Telegraph India, accessed July 20, 2025,
. Ibid.
