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Tourists throng Kohima for Hornbill festival
by Vibou Ganguly

     Kohima: A large number of tourists from different parts of the country and abroad attended the annual Hornbill festival here. Organised every year to promote tourism and highlight the socio-cultural panorama of the Nagas, the week-long festival had "Progress through culture" as its theme. This festival, which brings together various Naga tribes on the occasion, is also a tribute to the hornbill, the most revered bird of the Nagas. The festival's main aim, however, is to revive, protect and sustain richness of the 16 Naga tribe's heritage and traditions, as reflected in their folklore, dances and songs is the focus of the festival. Bonnie, one Naga youth at the festival, said: "Hornbill is quite interesting and so far in the Nagaland this is the only festival where all the Naga tribes come and celebrate together. It showcases our traditions and different rituals that we use to follow earlier. We come and learn the lifestyle of different communities and apart from this, we get platform for the youth to showcase our talents." Over the years, this event has become a unique platform for tourists to witness the cultural diversity of the Nagas. With a peaceful environment prevailing in Nagaland, the number of international tourists arriving for the Hornbill festival was highest. Beata Gillis, one tourist, said: " It's fabulous. I have never seen anything like this and to see so many different cultures represented in one area today was the most amazing" Anne, another tourist, said: "It's the first time we are in Nagaland and it is really amazing to be part of this cultural event. It is very nice to be here and meet all these people and see how rich the tribal culture is." The Hornbill festival is a fruition of the vision to showcase a different image of Nagaland to the outside world. And the dream to make it rich beyond local boundaries is rapidly taking shape.
-Dec 16, 2008