HORNBILL FESTIVAL

This is a very famous festival of Nagaland. It is often called as “festival of all festivals”. The Hornbill Festival is a glorious celebration that is brought to life each year in Nagaland, North East India. The festival is firm in its element and a magnificent representation of the Naga culture through splendid traditional music, dance and performances. It serves as a host to a weeklong display of cultural performances, indigenous games, craft bazaar, music events, fashion, cycling, motor sporting, events, a kids carnival, floral galleria, food courts, film festival and a series of competitions in many different activities.

The festival is named after the Indian Hornbill. The Hornbill is a frequently mentioned bird among the folklores and tribes of Nagaland and can be commonly seen strutting around amongst the forests of Nagaland. The different tribes in Nagaland represent their culture with utmost respect and thus find it purely essential to grace the festival with their cultural presence. So, the festival is celebrated with such pride and zeal. The festival has been an ongoing affair since 16 years now. What started out as an assortment of cultural display in the year 2000 is still getting stronger every year. The intent of this festival is to make sure that the Naga culture is preserved and secures. The festival brings about unity and a better relation among the different tribes in Nagaland. It has been because of the hard work of the department of tourism of Nagaland that the festival has attained such huge success. For visitors it means a closer knowledge and idea of the people and culture of Nagaland. It also serves as an opportunity to experience the food, songs, dances and customs of Nagaland.

Most of the festival activities take place at  Kisama Heritage Village , not far from Kohima, which is the capital of Nagaland. The best way to reach Kohima is by road from Dimapur, where the nearest railway station and airports are located. The journey takes approximately two to three hours. On the other hand, it is an eight or nine hour drive from Guwahati in Assam. Taxis are easily available from Kohima to Kisama Heritage Village. Do make sure that the vehicle has a pass to park at the venue to avoid any hindrance, which may stop you from enjoying this experience. The Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 kilometres away from Kohima. All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival.

The Hornbill Festival is one of the top celebration, which draws tourists in Nagaland, so if you're planning to attend, you must ensure to book accommodations well in advance. One of the best places to stay in Kohima is the Hotel Japfu. The rooms here cost more than 3,500 rupees for a double. So, advance bookings are essential. The bookings can be made through email or phone.

On the other hand, if you want to avoid the traffic congestion from Kohima to Kisama, you may consider staying in Kigwema village. It ix within walking distance of Kisama, and is much less crowded. It also has comfortable facilities for tourists. You can expect to pay 2,500-3,000 rupees per night for a double. Lalhou's Homestay, Greenwood Villa, or Vicha Guesthouse can be considered while making the decision of where to stay. Camping is also an option that may be considered. Kite Manja provides the only campsite inside the festival gate, only 100 meters from the main festival arena. Camping starts from November 30, for those who want to enjoy the opening ceremony the next morning. Facilities such as tents, sleeping bags, eco-toilets, water, common area, phone charging points, and kitchen are included. It is the "happiest campsite" which includes bonfire, jamming, and many other activities.

The festival which lasts a week joins one and all in Nagaland and people relish the colourful performances, crafts, sports, food fairs, games and ceremonies. Traditional arts which comprise of paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are also on show. The highlights of the festival 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, and the Miss Nagaland beauty contest. It also includes traditional archery, Naga wrestling, local games, and musical concert.

The Hornbill Festival provides a colourful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs and religious ceremonies. The festival both discloses the culture and tradition of tribal peoples, and boosts 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, which leads to cultural assimilation. Traditional arts are also a big part of the festival, with paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures by modern Naga artists on display. Naga troupes sing folk songs, perform traditional dances and play local games and sports. In the evenings a programme of music concerts, catering for all tastes, make sure that the festive spirit continues through the night. One of the main highlights of this festival is the Hornbill International Rock Festival, which takes place at Indira Gandhi Stadium; local and international rock bands perform.

There are many tours of the festival, that tourists can enjoy. Greener Pastures holds an eight-day tour to the Hornbill Festival each year. You must check ou this seven-day Nagaland and Hornbill Festival tour offered by The Holiday Scout as well. Kipepeo is also running an eight-day tour to the Hornbill Festival. All these are esteemed organizations. Those who want to photograph the festival may be interested in a photography tour which is offered by Darter Photography in partnership with local travel company Gypsy Feet. It includes visits to the nearby villages of the Angami tribe,  Kaziranga National Park , and  Majuli Island.