Hornbill Festival
Nagaland known as the land of ‘Naga’
people is also the land of festivals with one festival
followed by another round the year. In order to facilitate
tourists to have a glimpse of all the Naga festivals
at one time and one place, the Government of Nagaland
has evolved a festival called Hornbill Festival, which
is celebrated at Kohima, the capital town of Nagaland.
The Hornbill Festival celebrated between 1st & 5th
of December every year. The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland
is aimed at reviving, protecting and sustaining richness
of the Naga heritage and traditions. This is done through
cultural extravaganza worth experiencing.
The state of Nagaland boasts 16 major tribes. The names
of the tribes are not a typical recitation of Indian
ethnic groups - the Angamis, the Aos, the Chakhesangs,
the Konyaks, the Kukis, the Kacharis, the Sumis, the
Changs, the Lothas, the Pochurys. All the tribes are
noted for their unique character. Nagaland’s calendar
is filled with various tribal fests throughout the year.
In the year 2000, Nagaland’s government decided
to have all of the state’s tribes engage in a
common festival. Thus was born the Hornbill Festival,
which is celebrated the in the first week of December
in the Nagaland's capital city - Kohima.
The Activities
The state of Nagaland still supports a tribal culture
and here at the Hornbill Festival, in the state capital
Kohima, this is celebrated with a series of performances
and demonstrations. The Festival is named after the
hornbill, a globally respected bird that shows up in
the folklore of most of the state’s tribes. This
one week long festival unite all of the Nagaland, in
one giant colour-splashed hodgepodge of dances, performances,
crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs and religious
ceremonies. The festival both exposes the culture and
tradition of tribal people and reinforces Nagaland’s
identity as an unique state in India’s federal
union.
Traditional arts are also featured, with paintings,
wood carvings and sculptures by modern Naga artists
on display. Naga troupes sing folk songs, perform traditional
dances and play indigenous games and sports. In the
evenings a programme of music concerts, catering for
all tastes, ensure that the festive spirit continues
through the night
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