Hornbill Festival

Last updated

Hornbill Festival
HornbillFest2014logo.png
Logo from the 2014 edition
FrequencyAnnually
Venue Kisama Heritage Village
Kohima District, Nagaland, India
Years active2000–present
Inaugurated1 December 2000;23 years ago (2000-12-01)
Previous event1–10 December 2023
Next eventTo be announced
Patron(s) Government of Nagaland
Website hornbillfestival.com

The Hornbill Festival is an annual festival celebrated from 1 to 10 of December in the Northeastern Indian state of Nagaland. [1] The festival represents all ethnic groups of Nagaland for which it is also called the Festival of Festivals.

Contents

Hornbill Festival,Nagaland Hornbill Festival,Nagaland 2.jpg
Hornbill Festival,Nagaland

Background

Hornbill Greater Indian Hornbill.jpg
Hornbill
Kachari women celebrating the Hornbill Festival Hornbil Festival, Kohima 6.jpg
Kachari women celebrating the Hornbill Festival

The state of Nagaland is home to several ethnic groups, which have their own distinct festivals. More than 60% of the population of Nagaland depends on agriculture and therefore most of their festivals revolve around agriculture. The Nagas consider their festivals sacred, so participation in these festivals is essential. [2]

To encourage inter-ethnic interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year in the first week of December. The first festival was held in December 2000. [3]

The festival is named after the hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state's ethnic groups.

Hornbill Festval,Nagaland dance Hornbill Festival ,Nagaland.jpg
Hornbill Festval,Nagaland dance

Celebrations

Naga tribesmen at Kisama during the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. Hornbill festival of nagaland.jpg
Naga tribesmen at Kisama during the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland.

Organized by the Department of State Tourism and Department of Art & Culture, the Hornbill Festival showcases a mélange of cultural displays under one roof. This festival usually takes place between 1 and 10 December every year mainly in Kohima District. [3]

The main venue of the Hornbill Festival is held at the Kisama Heritage Village located in the Southern Angami region of Kohima District which is about 12 km from Kohima. All the ethnic groups of Nagaland take part in this festival. The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions. [1]

For visitors it means a closer understanding of the people and culture of Nagaland, and an opportunity to experience the food, songs, dances and customs of Nagaland. [4]

Hornbill Festval ,Nagaland night view Hornbill Festival,Nagaland.jpg
Hornbill Festval ,Nagaland night view

Festival activities

The week-long festival unites one and all in Nagaland and people enjoy the colourful performances, crafts, sports, food fairs, games and ceremonies. Traditional arts which include paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are also on display. [5]

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 concerts. [1]

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 ethnic peoples, and reinforces Nagaland’s identity as a unique state in India’s federal union. Experts have commented that A lot of 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, hence leading to cultural assimilation. [6]

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, ensures that the festive spirit continues through the night. [1] One of the major highlights of this festival is the Hornbill International Rock Festival, which is held at Indira Gandhi Stadium; local and international rock bands perform. [7]

Economic potential

The Hornbill Festival has contributed significantly to enhancing the state's tourism brand. Tourism promoters believe that the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland allows tourists to have an insight into the different ethnic groups of Nagaland. [6] It fosters understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the state, its resourceful architecture and its ethnic cuisine. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Nagaland is a landlocked state in the north-eastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south, and the Naga Self-Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region of Myanmar (Burma) to the east. Its capital city is Kohima and its largest city is the twin Chümoukedima–Dimapur. The state has an area of 16,579 square kilometres (6,401 sq mi) with a population of 1,980,602 as per the 2011 Census of India, making it one of the smallest states of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima</span> Capital of the Indian state of Nagaland

Kohima is the capital of the Indian state of Nagaland. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state. Kohima constitutes both a district and a municipality. The municipality covers 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi). The city lies on the foothills of Japfü section of the Barail Range located south of the District and has an average elevation of 1,261 m (4,137 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naga people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

Nagas are various ethnic groups native to northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. The groups have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority of population in the Indian state of Nagaland and Naga Self-Administered Zone of Myanmar (Burma); with significant populations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India; Sagaing Region and Kachin State in Myanmar.

The Angamis are a major Naga ethnic group native to the Northeast Indian state of Nagaland.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kohima district</span> District of Nagaland in India

Kohima District is a district of the Indian state of Nagaland. It is the home of the Angami Nagas. As of 2011, it is the most populous district of Nagaland, with a population of 267,988, 45% of which is urban. The district is home to 13.55% of Nagaland's entire population. The administrative headquarters of the district is located at Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Kohima District is also the seventh-largest district in Nagaland with an area of 1,207 square kilometres (466 sq mi).

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Kisama Heritage Village is a Heritage Village located on the slopes of a hill between Kigwema and Phesama Villages in the Kohima District of the Indian state of Nagaland. The Heritage Village is the venue of the annual Hornbill Festival.

Tsuikuap of the Khiamniungan is not just singing and dancing but deeply rooted to cultural identity and contains deep meaning.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Jaini, Kshaunish (6 January 2017). "Nagaland – Hiking and Hornbill Festival in India". Alien Adventure. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. Hornbill Festival - Where the Action is... Archived 19 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine , EF News International. 16 November 2011.
  3. 1 2 Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, India-north-east.com
  4. "Hornbill Festival 2016 - December". Festivals of India. New Delhi: Pan India Internet. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
  5. Nagaland's Hornbill Festival Goes International. Outlook India.com. 1 December 2009.
  6. 1 2 "' A window to the northeast'". The Hindu. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  7. "Hornbill Festival 2015 - Hornbill Rock Contest". www.hornbillfestival.com. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  8. "'Ignore the potholes, enjoy the ride'". The Hindu. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

Official sites

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