Kohima, Oct 18: Preparations have been in full swing in Nagaland for the famed Hornbill festival, which will be held with much grandeur this time after two years of subdued celebrations, an official said on Tuesday.
The festival might be held from December 1 to 10 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, around 12 km from the kingdom capital Kohima, stated consultant for Tourism and Art & Culture H Khehovi Yepthomi.
Yepthomi chaired a coordination assembly with the tribal hohos on Monday at the arrangements for the pageant, the yearly tourism promotional occasion of the kingdom authorities that brings collectively the Naga tribes. This will be the 23rd edition of the festival, which began in 2010.
The celebrations have been disrupted in 2020 and 2021, however, this year’s Hornbill Festival might be a grand affair with new thoughts and concepts, Yepthomi stated.
In 2020, the pageant become celebrated really for 3 days because of the pandemic, while last year the festival was called off midway after the killing of civilians at Opting in Mon district.
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The Hornbill Festival, which has performed international fame, promotes the wealthy and colorful subculture of Nagaland and its tribes, Yepthomi stated.
Asking the tribal hohos or groups to begin repairing their morungs (huts) in Kisama, and put them together for the festival, he stated anybody must make a contribution toward its grand success.
Kisama Heritage Village is designed to resemble the map of Nagaland with tribal morungs allotted as consistent with their geographical locations, he stated.
With the Tikhir tribe getting a reputation as a first-rate tribe, an area has been earmarked for them to install the 18th morung, he added.
At present, Nagaland has 18 recognized major tribes.
The seven tribal hohos under Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) did not attend Monday’s meeting alleging negligence towards them during the festivities. They have also declared that they would not participate in the Hornbill Festival.
