{"id":49932,"date":"2023-10-17T15:11:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T09:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.treebo.com\/blog\/?p=49932"},"modified":"2024-06-20T17:34:14","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T12:04:14","slug":"hornbill-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.treebo.com\/blog\/hornbill-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Hornbill Festival: A Glimpse into Nagaland\u2019s Rich Cultural History and Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Hornbill
Dancers at Hornbill Festival<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hornbill Festival is one of the most sought-after festivals in the country and holds great significance to the people of Nagaland. It is all about celebrating the Naga way of life and thanking the universe for bestowing them with happiness and prosperity. The indigenous people and visiting tourists gather to sing, dance, drink, and eat while enjoying themselves. That is not all! There is so much more meaning and depth to this festival. Being a part of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is a culturally enriching experience that is sure to transform you for good. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you interested to know more?
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to find out everything about this spectacular event in Nagaland! 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read: Khonoma Village<\/a>: a Surreal Destination in the Halls of Nagaland
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Hornbill Festival?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Hornbill Festival Performance<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The world has changed and technological developments have made our lives better. Some of the older customs and beliefs are forgotten to pave the way for newer innovations. But that is not how things work in Nagaland. The people of the Naga tribe along with the other sub-tribes go to great efforts to preserve their morals, customs, beliefs and traditional practices. The Hornbill Festival is celebrated to remind each other of these traditional beliefs and bask in the glory of their excellence.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people of the tribes dress up in their native attires, women cook their signature cuisines, and the men deck up with their spears, armoury, and headgear. Do you know? The men had to fight, compete and win to get their hands on the headgear or the weapons which are considered to be a man\u2019s pride. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People come out to dance, sing the hymns that narrate the story of the land, eat and drink together. The festival gets its name from the bird, the Great Indian Hornbill, which is revered by the people of the Naga tribe. Its colourful feathers and long beak are considered to be symbols of diversity, grandeur and wealth. The festival is so bright and vibrant that the whole land transforms into an impressive kaleidoscope! The youth come forward to perform, entertain and showcase their distinct talents. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where is the Hornbill Festival celebrated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Kisama Heritage Village<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is celebrated in the Kisama Heritage Village, Kohima which is about 5km from Nagaland. This is a small place where a large number of Naga tribal people live and most of the events are centered here. However, you will need a permit to come here and we will discuss all about it in the next section.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Great Indian Hornbill is greatly respected by the native Naga tribe. In the olden days, the feathers of this bird\u2019s plumage were used to decorate the headgear of the warriors. It is a matter of pride and honour. Nagas used to hunt the birds extensively which almost led to their extinction. The government tried to talk them out of it but they were not ready to overlook their customs.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when they noticed that the birds were really disappearing in large numbers, the hunting decreased significantly. In 2000, the organisation of the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland began and people began singing songs and praises of the majestic bird during the event. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know About Other Interesting Rural Villages in India: Rural Tourism<\/a>: Your Guide to Authentic Village Lifestyle in India<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates and Permits for the Festival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Naga Tribe at Hornbill Festival<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hornbill festival will last for a total of 10 days starting from 1st December to 10th December every year. It will begin at 9:30 AM every day. The ticket will cost you around INR 20 – 30 and needs to be purchased for each day before you enter the festive grounds. A mandatory security check will be conducted before you get seated to witness the cultural exhibitions. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, for those who are not native to Nagaland, you will need an Inner Line Permit to attend the Hornbill Festival. This will cost you INR 50 for 15 days and INR 500 for 365 days. Foreign tourists must also hold a permit to enter the place. Additionally, they must list their names at the local Foreigner\u2019s Registration Office(FRO) within 24 hours of their arrival. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domestic tourists can get their permit from the office of the Deputy Resident Commissioner in Guwahati, Shimla, New Delhi or Kolkata. Even after coming to Nagaland, you can get a permit from the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Dimapur. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main Events to cover in the Hornbill Festival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
Events at Hornbill Festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we told you earlier, the Hornbill Festival is a 10-day event that will keep you entertained throughout. The order of events will differ from year to year but you will find these festive celebrations every time you attend the festival
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural Performances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There will be performances by the Naga tribe on all ten days. Each day, you will find a different set of dancers showcasing their talents, the music maestros swaying to the most splendid tunes, and people enjoying the exhilaration and excitement! 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Handlooms and Handicrafts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Hornbill Festival also helps with improving the eco-tourism and local livelihood of the place. The Naga tribal people are known to make some of the best handicrafts that you can use as display items or house decor. The handlooms are great additions to your wardrobe.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous Games and Exhilarating Sports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several indigenous games that the Naga tribal teams play and entertain the crowd during the Hornbill Festival. It is of great significance to them and people who win will walk around with their heads held high for an entire year. You can expect to see Naga traditional wrestling, archery, bamboo pole climbing, rock pulling, spear throwing, traditional foot races and board games like Yubi Lakpi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature Walks and Trekking Trials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nagaland is a beautiful place with mesmerising exotic flowers, trees and wild animals that are only found in the region. You can go on walks or trekking trails through dense forests to find Blyth\u2019s Tragopan, Kolock Gibbon, Nuthatch, Spotted Linseng, and Southern Red Muntjac. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

World War II Rally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The World War II Rally is organised during the Hornbill Festival to commemorate the efforts of the warriors of the battle of Kohima which happened on 2nd December. You will see this procession and display of armoury on 2nd December or the second day of the festival. This rally is a symbol of peace and harmony that the people of Naga want to spred to the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naga King Chilly and Pineapple Eating Competition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Naga cuisine is innately spicy and they use the infamous King Chilly to make the dishes. The Naga Chilly eating competition involves eating as many chillies as possible in a short period of time. The pineapple-eating competition involves the same thing but the competants will be eating juicy pineapples in a short span! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rock Concerts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can also see some of the famous local artists, and national and international talents performing on an extravagant stage during the Hornbill Festival. Northeastern talents like Harmonic Voices, Colored Keys, Renbeni, and Angam & Friends performed here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bamboo Carnival and Night Carnival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can enjoy the bamboo carnival where you can see bamboo food stalls, cultural performances using bamboo, bamboo art, artifacts made with bamboo, and workshops where the ecological significance of bamboo is explained to the attendees. 
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Night Carnival is a sparkly night bazaar where you will find stalls, craft bazaars, handlooms, handicrafts, bonfires and campfires, and impressive dance processions. With loud DJ music and an unlimited supply of rice beer, you will enjoy the night carnival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Should Tourists Do During the Event?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tourists
Souvenir Shop at Hornbill Festival<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tourists coming to the Hornbill Festival should not miss out on these splendid things at the event!<\/p>\n\n\n\n