KOHIMA, Nov 30: The 25th edition of Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival will kick off on December 1, marking the start of a 10-day cultural celebration aimed at promoting and preserving the state’s rich heritage. The event, which will begin on the evening of December 1 after the 62nd Nagaland statehood day celebrations, will feature a collaborative cultural experience with the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (Wales), Japan, and Peru as country partners. Sikkim and Telangana will be the partner states for this year’s edition.
The Hornbill Festival, one of the biggest cultural festivals in India, attracts tourists from across the country and abroad. Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along highlighted the festival’s importance as a platform for celebrating Naga culture through food, art, crafts, music, dances, and indigenous games, and a focal point for cultural networking.
The festival, which also marks the culmination of various Naga tribal festivals tied to the agricultural calendar, promotes the diverse ethnicities of Nagaland and showcases Naga textiles and designs. In 2023, over 1.5 lakh visitors attended the festival at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, located just 12 km from Kohima. This year’s event will include multiple cultural programs across districts, further enhancing the state’s tourism appeal.
