The 22nd edition of the Hornbill Festival inaugurated on Wednesday evening at the Naga Heritage Village of Kisama.
Kicking off the 10-day festivities. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the Hornbill Festival celebrates the Naga way of life. Showcasing unity and reflecting the aspiration for real peace, even as it contributes immensely in enhancing the state’s tourism brand.
“Today, it has come a long way — crossing the boundaries of the state on to the global stage, where people of all cultures, from all walks of life, gather as one people, celebrating the gift of life, of community living and humanity,” he said at the inaugural ceremony of the much-awaited Hornbill Festival, 2021. the Hornbill Festival held in the virtual format because of pandemics.
“Dozens of platforms have attained international recognition and have succeeded in propelling Naga soft power beyond our borders. The icing on the cake is the Hornbill Music Festival, which is the country’s biggest music event,” said Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio
Rio said the fest exemplifies the energy, vibrancy, and new-found ambition of the Naga people. “Dozens of platforms have attained international recognition and have succeeded in propelling Naga soft power beyond our borders. The icing on the cake is the Hornbill Music Festival, which country’s biggest music event,” he pointed out.
The Indian Tribal covers this full Hornbill festival with the feel of The Indian Tribal Music In Nagaland, and CM explained how the festival creates thousands of employment avenues in multiple sectors, provides opportunities to the locals, and positively impacts the local economy.
He said the benefits of the tourism economy are beginning to reach the grassroots through the policy of ‘Land of Festivals,’ with a Mini-Hornbill in every corner of the state. “This 22nd edition of the festival will celebrating in six districts of Nagaland,” Rio added.
This year, the focus is on the ubiquitous bamboo, along with the Indian tribal music and literature. Film festivals also lined, adventure tourism like Naga-style wrestling, mountain biking, and cross-country races.
December 1 also being the day state came into being, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet: “On the special occasion of Nagaland’s Statehood Day, greetings to wonderful people of the state, The Indian Tribal Music In Nagaland and Naga culture personifies valor and humane values. The people of Nagaland make rich contributions to India’s growth. I pray for Nagaland’s progress in years to come.”
At the Hornbill Festival, inauguration as chief guest, Nagaland Governor Jagdish Mukhi said: “Nagaland is bestowed with rich biodiversity, both flora, and fauna.
We need to harness it for the development of the state. Eco-tourism has huge potential for the socio-economic growth of our society. It can address the unemployment issue to a considerable extent.”
Several other dignitaries, including the US and German Consul Generals and the Israel Ambassador, were in attendance.
