The study explores the cultural significance of the Yarra festival among the Tangkhul Nagas, a Scheduled Tribe in Manipur, India. This festival, deeply rooted in oral tradition, serves as a reflection of the community's life and identity. Here, the empirical data were collected mainly through observation, focus group discussion, and in-depth interview specially from Lunghar, Kuirei, and Hunphun villages in Ukhrul district. Yarra is the festival of yarnao, age-set youths of the Tangkhul Naga tang ¬(village). It is celebrated in spring season (Mayo) during an interval period of agricultural activities in which yarnao supplies the human resource in their reciprocal economy known as yarkathui. It also relates to their traditional knowledge of lunar calendar to arrange and hold the cultural function, social status of prestige economy to host the feast locally known as yershim, aesthetic expression of community song and dance, socialization of artistic communication from elders to juniors, face-to-face merry-making participation of girls and boys in pleasant youthfulness in the dim light of meila (pine wood light), enjoyment of indigenous food such as sachao made from scented sticky rice, honouring the elders by serving food, as well as sharing jokes, stories, riddles, etc. Group-unity is disciplined by tying and beating with lenghui (stinging plant) to deviant persons. In conclusion, from a folklorist interpretation of realistic portraiture of the festival, it gives the reflected life-crises event in economic relevance, group-integrating solidarity besides being a leisure activity to shape in a unique cultural locale. Through the lens of folklorist interpretation, the festival emerges as a multifaceted event, encompassing economic relevance, social cohesion, and leisurely enjoyment within a unique cultural context.

Yarra, Tangkhul, Ukhrul district, cultural performance, tradition, yarnao