The Hornbill Festival is an annual festival celebrated from 1st Dec- 10th Dec in India’s Northeastern state of Nagaland. It showcases a melange of cultural displays under one roof. Held at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, the festival is organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments. The festival aims to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.
Why HORNBILL??!
The 10 day long festival unites one and all in Nagaland. People enjoy the colorful performances, music, crafts, sports, food fairs, games and ceremonies. The festival is named after the hornbill, a large and colourful bird which is found in the folklore of most of the tribes belonging to the state. The hornbill species was found to be endangered, and this became a huge matter of concern to the Nagas, perhaps the reason why they dedicated a whole festival to this ecological champion. I attended the hornbill festival 2022 with my father. I took a flight from Delhi to Dimapur, after which we traveled by road to Kohima.
Food and Music
When we reached there, the Hornbill Music Festival was going on. Various local and international artists were performing and the audience was jamming. It was a soul stirring experience to be amidst the musical aura in those awe-inspiring hills. Later we went to explore the Naga Heritage Villa. Many food stalls were serving local food such as pork and rice with bamboo stew, momos and local rice beer. Many stalls were also serving Indian vegetarian food. After having dinner we roamed around the whole village so that the next day we knew where to begin from.
Loads of Action
The next morning was bright and sunny, promising loads of action. When we again entered the venue we went to the Organic Pavilion where we saw heaps of freshly harvested fruits, vegetables and some fresh flowers. Then we went to the main stadium where all the tribes of Nagaland were present in their traditional attire. Since 4th Dec was also the Navy Day, naval crews were present there which gave a mesmerising band performance. The sight of all the colourful tribes along with the naval crew was a sight to behold- so majestic and sublime. How I wished that I was a part of that august gathering!
An Amazing Mix
As I went ahead to explore the Heritage Village, I saw a montage of tribal clothing, weapons and food items. There was a cooking competition going on in which the participants had to cook the food using the local masalas and the aroma was simply heavenly.
The shopping arcade was also an amazing mix. There were a lot of bamboo artifacts including utensils, decoration pieces and jewelry. Shawls, skirts and traditional dresses were also available in different hues.
A Bag full of Memories
Picking up a few souvenirs for myself and my friends, I finally bid farewell to the Heritage Village. It has been an enriching experience to have been a part of a culture that is so diverse, simplistic and vibrant. For someone who is really interested in exploring new places or cultures, attending the Hornbill festival, at least once in their lifetime, is a must. I was blessed to have this chance as it broadened my horizons about the eastern Indian culture. I was glad to have visited and as I bid adieu to Kisama village, I took back a bag full of memories and new experiences.
Writer : Harshita Haryal
Grade : 11 (Year 2022)
Place : Delhi, India
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