NAGALAND- HORNBILL FESTIVAL

NAGALAND-

HORNBILL FESTIVAL

Nagaland will be celebrating the Hornbill Festival for 10 (ten) days long, beginning from 1st December 2013 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama (Kohima). This year it is coinciding with 50th anniversary of the Nagaland State hood which will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India. As a customary, the President is expected to be decorated with the Naga traditional dress/custom. If dignitaries receiving the President during the function also wear similar dress, it will add glamour to the celebration.The basic concept of this festival which is the brain child of the present CM of Nagaland and has become an annual feature for Nagaland State, has two aims, namely — to preserve and promote the Naga cultural heritage inherited from the Naga ancestors with a view to retain the Naga Identity as a people. Secondly, it is to promote the Tourism Industry by exhibiting the Naga cultures and the Naga people to visitors from outside the State including foreigners, who are generally interested to visit less known land and its people. This would further generate more income and improve the economy of the common people.

Dress Code: It would be a good gesture to the Festival if the Nagas attending the festival wear the Nagas traditional dress, if not in full, atleast carry a Nagas shawal or wear waist coat or muffler, it would be a contribution towards promotion of the above aims. This aspect has been shown by present Governor of Nagaland and Manipur Shri.Aswani Kumar, who always wears the Naga jacket in all functions by identifying himself with the Nagas, which is a praise worthy and worth following.The Tribal Troupes: During the last Hornbill festivals, it has been observed that some of the tribal troupes and guests of Honour did not cover their buttocks (back side of their bottoms) while performing the tribal dances/addressing the audience, which appeared to have been freshly removed for the occasion. This is an embarrassing scene for some visitors. They may also covered their buttocks like other majority of troupes. As going back to the days of Adam and Eve do not promote one’s own culture.About the Hornbill: It is a great and majestic bird living in the high mountain trees beyond reach of the Naga arrows and other animals and birds. It live on fruits and not generally seen in ground. This majestic bird has disappeared from Nagaland as no forest worth the name remains due to brutal deforestation for living.

All the Naga ancestors used to regard this bird as great and holy and used to admire and adore. This has been associated in their cultural life like folk lores and songs in singing praise of the bird and decorated its feathers in their head gears. This is a proof that all Nagas belong to common ancestors. As a tribute to this great bird, some kind of cards carrying picture of Hornbill inform of token flag and card flag may be distributed to all participants and visitors on free or in return for token/ voluntary contribution toward the Hornbill Festival Fund.The above points are only humble suggestions for all concern to address them in a true spirit of the Hornbill festival.    President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Nagaland on November 30 to inaugurate the 10-day Hornbill Festival and take part in the 50th anniversary celebration of statehood of Nagaland.Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, State Commissioner and Secretary of Tourism Department Himato Zhimomi said, "The President will inaugurate the 10-day Hornbill Festival and launch the year-long golden jubilee celebration of Nagaland statehood" .Himato said that over 1000 foreign tourists and more than 10,000 domestic tourists from rest of the country as well as over 2 lakh visitors within the state are expected to attend the special Hornbill Festival this year.He said besides Mukherjee, other dignitaries likely to attend the celebrations are Tourism Minister of Thailand, Governors and Chief Ministers of North East States, US based journalists and visitors from South Asian countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, South Korea, Singapore.

                                                                             Prof. John Kurakar