Nagaland Tourism is all set to host the 19th edition of the Hornbill Festival, one of the most important festivals of northeast India, from December 1st to 10th with much fanfare and celebration. Organized by the State Tourism, Art & Culture Departments, the Hornbill Festival showcases a mélange of cultural displays under one roof. The Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima and promises the splendour and amazement of every other Hornbill Festival in the past. The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.
The Hornbill festival is a traditional naga celebration involving seventeen Naga tribes including Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Dimasa Kachari, Garo, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yumchungru, and Zeliang.
The Hornbill Festival provides a colourful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs, and religious ceremonies. The festival both exposes the culture and tradition of tribal peoples and reinforces Nagaland’s identity as a unique state in India’s federal union.
A visit to Nagaland to witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience of the tribal festival means a closer understanding of the people and culture of Nagaland, and an opportunity to experience the food, songs, dances, and customs of Nagaland. The festival will also display the mesmerizing rhythms of tribal musical instruments and the synchronized movements of the tribal people. It gives a chance for every traveller to get a closer look into the Naga lifestyle, their different tribal huts, and their customs.
Festival highlights include the traditional Naga Morungs exhibition and the sale of arts and crafts, food stalls, herbal medicine stalls, flower shows and sales, cultural medley – songs and dances, fashion shows, the Miss Nagaland beauty contest, traditional archery, Naga wrestling, indigenous games, and musical concert.
Experts have commented that Many older folk in the villages travel to Kohima to attend this festival and meet people from other villages from Nagaland because they haven’t met before, leading to cultural assimilation.
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 to all tastes, ensures that the festive spirit continues through the night. One of the major highlights of this festival is the Hornbill International Rock Festival held at Indira Gandhi Stadium where local and international rock bands perform.
https://tourismindiaonline.com/culinary-journey-from-bengal-to-bengaluru-the-chancery/
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