2 Days to go
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 28
About Hornbill festival
Hornbill festival is an annual tourism promotional event to showcase Nagaland’s traditional and rich cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur.
It is the coming together of all the elements that make up the total Nagaland. The Hornbill Festival is a collaborative celebration of all Naga tribes at one venue and has been coined as “Festival of Festivals.’ The festival is a tribute to the great “Hornbill”, which is the most admired and revered bird for the Nagas, for its qualities of alertness and grandeur.
The majestic bird is closely identified with the social and cultural life of the Nagas as reflected in various tribal folklores , dances and songs. The awe and admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all tribal traditional headgears worn during the festivals and is indicative of the unity of the Nagas.
Hornbill festival of Nagaland is a cultural extravaganza to revive, protect and preserve the richness and uniqueness of the Naga heritage, while for the visitors to this event, it is a means for a comprehensive understanding of Naga people, their land and culture.
Over the years, this event has gained in stature and scale. It has now become a unique platform for the tourists to witness the cultural diversity not only for the Nagas but the seven other sister states of North East India in all its wonder and glory.
CM to inaugurate Hortiscape 2016
Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang will inaugurate Hortiscape 2016- an exhibition cum sale of flowers, fruits, vegetables, spices, departmental farm products, horticulture machineries and horticulture products at Naga Heritage village Kisama on December 1 at 8:30 AM.
Parliamentary secretary for industries & commerce Amenba Yaden will inaugurate exhibition cum sale of handloom and handicrafts products at Bamboo Pavilion at Kisama on December 1 at 8:45 AM.
Horse riding & pony cart transportation will be flagged off by parliamentary secretary for animal husbandry & veterinary services S. Chuba Longkumer on December 1, below Open Theatre at 9:15 AM.
ASA golden jubilee stone pulling
The Angami Sports Association (ASA) golden jubilee stone pulling ceremony will take place on December 3 as part of the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. It will start at 11:00 AM from KMC Parking lot, Old Minister’s Hill and culminate at Phoolbari, Y. Junction. It will be followed by a grand function at the Kohima Local Ground.
Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang will be the chief host while Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Alan Gemmel, OBE Minister Cultural Affairs, British Council, India and Vinod Zutshi, secretary Ministry of Tourism, Government of India will be the guest of honour.
ASA has extended invitation to all tribal hohos and all Angami in-laws to the programme. ASA general secretary Er Zale Neikha said that right after the act of blessing, gun salute will be organized at the KMC parking lot and another at the Kohima Local Ground. ASA is expecting over 10,000 gathering at the local ground on that day.
North East Day
North East Day under the theme “Culturally yours” will take place on December 2 where all the seven sister states will display its rich culture and traditions. This cultural extravaganza will be taken up by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) Dimapur from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon and again afternoon session from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Hornbill International Photo Fest
The Eastern Art Council is presenting Hornbill International Photo Fest (Photo Contest) on the theme” Colours of Nagaland” from December 1 to 10 at Kisama. It will also feature photo exhibition, gallery and sale. The judges for this contest will comprise Tom Potisit and Nathwalee Aengsubwong both from Thailand including one local judge.
Runners from Kenya to join
Hornbill half Marathon
In order to facilitate runners from outside the state and abroad at the 6th Hornbill Half Marathon, venue registration will commence from November 29 and continue till December 3 at 5:00 PM at New Secretariat junction Kohima. Local runners may also avail this opportunity since registration through district outlets will close on November 30.
Two runners from Kenya, Isaac Kemboi and Rop Felex are expected to arrive for the race besides a host of national runners from different states across the country. In order to encourage local runners, a separate cash prize will be given to the best Naga runner who fails to make it to the top 3 positions in both men and women's categories of the half marathon. The 6th Hornbill Half Marathon will take place on December 4 at 7:00 AM. Both start and finish venue will be at New Secretariat junction Kohima. The event will comprise 3 categories - Half Marathon (21.0975 km for men and women); Great Hornbill Run (11.9 km for boys and girls of class 10 & below); and the Special Lap will be a short distance social cause/charity run for persons with special needs. Any voluntary participant may register for the special under the theme "Hornbill for all", the proceeds from the event will go towards gift hampers for all participants with disabilities.
The event is supported by the Departments of Tourism and Youth Resources & Sports, Government of Nagaland and event partners are UCO Bank (kilometre/metre mark sponsor), Colors Graphic Designer Kohima (baggage tag sponsor).
Hornbill festival sites, Kisama and night bazaar area declared ‘Plastic Free Zone’
Meanwhile, in a notification, the Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Rovilatuo Mor, IAS has declared Plastic Free Zone at the Hornbill Festival sites, Kisama and Night Bazaar area where use of following items will be restricted accordingly: serving food/beverages in Styrofoam/polystyrene foam plates & cups; plastic cups & cutleries; use of disposable plastic water bottles and use of plastic bags below 40 microns. The DC also stated that use of the non-biodegradable materials within the declared plastic free zone have been restricted for compliance by one and all. This notification has been issued in the interest of the public and with a view to reduce the use of plastic and non-biodegradable waste during the festival.
