Thinoneisie Lhousa
Kitsubozou, Kohima
Condemnation note against on celebrating the famous hornbill festival has been received from different thinkers verbally and from written paper from different walks of life. It is a common knowledge that hornbill festival is the common festival of festivals for our Nagas initiated by our State Government. According to my own opinion, observation and knowledge we needn’t and shouldn’t blame on celebrating hornbill festival at all with no second thought. Eventhough our blood relationship exists from our past ancestral grandparents we have different tribe having its own language and though not much have different style of living. Inspite of some of our elders, leaders with much concern trying their best level and ability to make a peaceful unification of our Nagas we still notice from time to time the negative attitude of tribalism amongst our Nagas. It needs to be mentioned here again that unison or unification is the base for all proper development activities. Festival is a large part of our human life which cannot be compared with other things from the religion point of view. It doesn’t perform ceremonial and ritual activities linking with the other religion in any manner. Celebrating our hornbill festival doesn’t embody religious ritual performance and ceremonial worshipping to unseen goddess other than our own God of Christianity. It is very unwise and complete lack of civic sense thinking that we are worshipping a bird. Eventhough our God great creation living bird comparing with our omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God is unimaginable. Our Christian Almighty God is supreme above all. How can a bird of his own tiny creation can be compared with and worshipped by us. As human beings and as social animals we lives in this vast world it is a part of our human life to become closer, to know each other better and develop “we feeling” and “oneness feeling.” Some people always used to say a huge amount of our government consolidated fund is being spent on the organizing of hornbill festival. While writing a self question come to my mind. Which of the following two sentences is more important than the other one? Put a tick mark against the very correct one: spending money first for
1. Infrastructure development follow by mental cohesion
2. Mental cohesion follow by infrastructure development.
Eventhough development of our infrastructure such as road development, electricity connection and the like is a prime need which must be developed equally by our government but we needn’t complaint much against on various programme chalking out for the development of our mental integration and “we feeling.”
We Nagas were living in such a peaceful situation where we are in dire need of mental integration. We must find and planout ways and means from which mental cohesion can develop so that everything can follow-up peacefully. Everybody know what consequences will arise from the place where a country live on unity in diversity based on mental integration and oneness feeling to go forward. Attitude towards tribalism, racism, partism and selfishness need to be eradicated by promoting mutual understanding and cohesiveness of mind as “we Nagas.” The organizers of our common festival doesn’t welcome the persons who are in habitual immoral activities. Their intention is not to make people a wicked and a bad person. Use of intoxicating drink and unwanted elements happen during festival doesn’t invite by the organizing committee. They voluntarily involves in such condition of affairs.
The organizers of Hornbill Festival has strongly banning the use of intoxicating drinks and immoral activities and practices in and around. Participating and taking part in any events or items is a part and parcel of promoting oneness of Nagas.
It is a well known fact that every year especially during hornbill festival pouring of foreigners from different countries into our state is being increased year by year. The uniqueness of our cultural identity can be made known to all nations through the participating of foreigners from the different nations of the world. The popularity of our people and the Naga country can be increased to a large extend by celebrating such kind of hornbill festival. Consequent upon the continuous increasing number of tourists from different countries of the world the income and revenue of our own state government and private business establishment can be improved considerably. In this aspect viewing from different angle instead of blaming and discouraging hectic efforts must be made to popularize of the so called hornbill festival through various good ways and means rather than through unwanted activities. By observing and celebrating of such kind of our common festival by the whole tribes our cultural heritage and identity can be practiced well and preserved permanently by the young growingup generation. Mention must be made here again in conclusion part, we Nagas need mutual cooperation, mental integration and a popular figure so as to reach and obtain our target destination satisfactorily.
I personally in support of celebrating festival of festivals once in three years rather than celebrating in every year.
