Nagaland Gears Up for 27th Hornbill Festival from December 1-10
The 27th Hornbill Festival in Nagaland will celebrate the states rich culture from December 1-10, featuring diverse traditions and international participation.
Kohima, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : The state of Nagaland is preparing for the 27th edition of its renowned Hornbill Festival, one of the largest cultural events in the region. Scheduled to take place from December 1 to 10, the festival will be hosted at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, located approximately 12 kilometers south of the capital, Kohima.
This year’s festival coincides with Nagaland’s statehood day on December 1 and is expected to attract participants from various countries, with a northeastern state designated as a ‘partner state.’
The Hornbill Festival showcases Nagaland’s rich cultural heritage, traditional customs, indigenous arts, music, dance, crafts, and cuisine, drawing tourists from both India and abroad. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among government departments and local communities to ensure the smooth execution of this year’s festival during a preparatory meeting at the Bamboo Hall in Kisama.
He highlighted the importance of good roads, electricity, water supply, security, traffic management, cleanliness, parking facilities, and public amenities. The Chief Minister also called on villages to take responsibility for keeping roads clean, particularly those highways passing through or near their areas.
Stressing the need for collective responsibility, CM Rio urged all departments and stakeholders to work diligently to ensure the necessary arrangements for the festival. Advisor to the Chief Minister, Abu Metha, described the Hornbill Festival as a vital platform for Nagaland’s intellectual property and international engagement, as well as economic activity.
Metha, who is also the chairman of the Nagaland Investment and Development Authority (IIDAN), noted that the festival began as a three-day event, which later expanded to five days and eventually to ten. Today, it has evolved into a major tourism festival featuring over 300 events across numerous locations throughout the state.
Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along highlighted the growing popularity of the mini-Hornbill Festival and increasing interest from foreign dignitaries in attending the celebrations. Named after the Hornbill bird, this festival unites all 17 major tribes of Nagaland and their sub-tribes. According to the 2011 census, over 86 percent of the state’s two million population is tribal. The annual event aims to preserve and promote Nagaland’s enduring traditions.
