Hornbill Festival

Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is the time to get indulged in a cultural extravaganza that takes place once in a year. Named after a bird, called Hornbill, this festival is a popular attraction for tourists. The bird is visible in many traditional folklores of Nagaland.

This week long fiesta can be described as an assortment of inter-cultural festivities of the place. Tribal dances, religious ceremonies, handicrafts, parades, games belonging to the Naga culture are the prime attractions of the festival.

The festival is a brainchild of the Nagaland Government. It serves as an apt platform where the cultural heritage of the place is promoted. Introduced in 2000, this festival is conducted by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments. In 2007, yet another entertaining facet was introduced to this jamboree.

The Hornbill National Rock Contest, which is the only music festival in the entire country to last for one week. About a dozen bands compete for this desiderate title, evaluated by a panel of judges, including musicians and celebrities from music industry and media.

Hornbill festival unites the people of the state as they gather under one roof to show their indigenous arts and crafts.

The sought-after attractions of the festival include:

• Traditional Naga Morungs Exhibition
• Sale of Arts and Crafts
• Food Stalls
• Herbal Medicine Stalls
• Flower Shows

The celebration is adorned with a cultural medley of different traditional songs and dances. Other interesting activities include beauty contests, fashion shows, traditional archery, indigenous games,  Naga wrestling and even motor-rally.

It is the best occasion to witness the exciting cultural activities of the different tribes of Nagaland. Offering an opportunity for inter-tribal interaction, it is celebrated in December every year. 12 km from Kohima, Naga Heritage Village in Kisma serves as the venue for this cultural pageant.

Intended to preserve and revive the richness of the Naga heritage, Hornbill Festival attracts large number of tourists every year.