By : Travelothon
The Hornbill Festival is held every year from December 1st to 10th at the Kisama Heritage Village, which is about 12 km from the state capital, Kohima. The festival was first organized in 2000 to promote inter-tribal harmony
The festival features the participation of all the 16 major Naga tribes. The festival provides a platform for them to display their traditional arts, crafts, dances, songs, games, sports, and food
One of the main attractions of the festival is the traditional Naga morungs, which are communal huts where the young boys and girls of a tribe live and learn their ancestral skills and wisdom.
The festival also hosts a variety of events and activities that showcase the Naga way of life, such as the Hornbill Literature Festival, the Hornbill Fashion Show, the Hornbill Choral Competition
One of the most exciting events of the festival is the Naga wrestling, which is a traditional sport that tests the strength and stamina of the wrestlers. The wrestling matches are held at the Kohima Local Ground
The Naga food stalls serve a variety of dishes, such as smoked pork, bamboo shoot curry, fermented soybean, dried fish, snails, crabs, and insects. The Naga food is usually accompanied by rice beer, which is a fermented drink made from rice or millet.
The festival also celebrates the Hornbill as a symbol of the Naga culture and identity. The Hornbill is a sacred bird for the Naga tribes, and features prominently in their folklore, myths, legends, and rituals.
Another highlight of the festival is the Hornbill International Rock Contest, which is the longest and most popular music festival in the country. The contest is held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima, and draws thousands of music lovers every year