The Hornbill Festival of
Nagaland is one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in the North
East. It is a week-long event held every year from Dec1-7 in Nagaland.
The Hornbill Festival is a festival to revive, protect, sustain, and
promote the richness of the Naga heritage and traditions.
Hornbill Festival is
a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Nagas. During the
Hornbill Festival, all the Naga tribes come together for a week-long
celebration of their cultural and traditional plight. It’s a time where
all these tribes gather up to showcase their age-old traditions and come
closer to knowing each other. The main events of the Hornbill Festival
take place at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 10kms
from Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland. Traditional Naga huts and
Morungs (boy’s dormitories) typical to each of the Naga tribes are built
and erected in a way that closely resembles their traditional euphoria
on a small hillock in Kisama. The place itself is scenic and mystical,
and the festival is simply epic
The Hornbill Festival celebrations
are marked with a colorful display of traditional dances, sports, and
songs of the various Naga tribes. Cultural dances, indigenous sports,
and folk songs are the main highlights of the first 3 days of the
Hornbill Festival. And one can get to see a colorful and vibrant
celebration of a culture that’s so mystic and intriguing. The warrior
log drums, the colorful headgear, the soulful war cry, the exquisite
costumes et al are simply remarkable in their own ways. Delicious local
cuisines and delicacies that are typical to each of the Naga tribes are
served in their respective Morungs along with the finest rice beer. The
amazing food simply makes it a gastronomic festival.
The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland,
over the years, has evolved from being just a celebration of the
culture and tradition of the Nagas into one big cultural event for all
the 8 Northeast States. Cultural troupes from all the northeastern
states participate during this week-long celebration and it is such a
delight watching all the different cultures coming together under one
roof. Hornbill Festival is a great time to experience the cultural
diversity of North East India on a go.
The Hornbill Festival is
not just about reliving past, it is also a celebration of the present.
The biggest Rock Festival of the country is hosted at Kohima every year
during the Hornbill Festival. It is believed that singing and dancing is
a way of life and comes naturally to the Nagas. And the biggest rock
event is no doubt a part of the vibrant Hornbill celebrations. Apart
from this, an adventure car rally and various other contest and events
are organized during this festival. Some interesting events during the
Hornbill Festival are – the Pork eating contest, the King Chilly eating
contest etc.
The Kohima Night Bazaar is also an interesting aspect of the Hornbill Festival.
The stretch of the Kohima Main town comes alive for 7 nights during the
Hornbill Festival with food, music, and fun. The street is overcrowded
with various food stalls serving out some of the finest delicacies and
it’s simply amazing walking through the hustle-bustle.
Main events/highlights of the Hornbill Festival:
1. Cultural events spread throughout the festival highlighting traditional dances, music, indigenous games
2. King Chilly Eating Contest
3. Port Fat Eating Contest
4. The Hornbill Rock Festival
5. North East Cultural Ensemble
6. Hornbill Adventure Rally
7. The Kohima Night Bazaar
8. World War Peace Rally
The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is
a celebration of the past and the present. It is a cultural
extravaganza that not only celebrates the tribal way of life but also
bridges the gap between generations and revives and strengthens human
bonds. The Hornbill Festival is a magical experience in itself.
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