Dr. Asangba Tzüdir
The approval of ‘Mini-Hornbill’ in all districts coinciding with the respective tribal festivals makes one ‘enthusiastic’ that the ten-day long Nagaland Hornbill Festival is not enough. In reality or perhaps a departure from noble objective, the Hornbill festival tagged as the ‘Festival of Festivals’ has only reinforced commercially ‘westoxicated’ version of ‘Naga traditional festivals’. The new format, as a prefix to the Hornbill Festival, plans to promote tribal festival and select the best performances to be put up for show in the mega Hornbill Festival. To this end, the Mini-Hornbill Festival format will be decided by the respective DCs in consultation with the tribal Hohos but the plan is to have cultural presentations from villages and tribes, musical performances and adventure sports.
As a footnote to the tag of Nagaland as the ‘Land of Festivals,’ the proposed Mini-Hornbill now seeks to keep the tribal masses in festive and musical mood the year through which will then culminate in the ten day Hornbill Festival. However, the proposed layout plan of the Mini-Hornbill and the commercialized carnivalistic nature of Hornbill Festival only indicate that the Mini-Hornbill will erode the already challenged Naga tribal festivals celebrated in the best cultural fervor.
Looking at the respective tribal festivals and the way they are celebrated today one can see a lot of departure from the traditional fold of celebration and the significance held by each tribe festival. The meaning, purpose and the intent with which each tribe has been celebrating their festivals is no more celebrated with the same ‘religious’ and ‘cultural’ fervor.
Now, the form and color of the populist slogan, ‘change is coming’ is seen in different forms including the proposed Mini-Hornbill Festival. As the tribal festivals of Nagaland fall under a new format of celebration, the ‘Mini-Hornbill’ will swing between ‘traditional essence’ and ‘commercialized modern Naga festivity.’
Even so, the question still begs – Why the need for another Mini-Hornbill coinciding with each tribe festival especially when the ‘form’ and the ‘relevance’ of Hornbill Festival is being questioned. Even, the amount of expenditure incurred has only managed to bring almost ‘negligible’ revenue returns. And at a time when the credibility of Hornbill Festival has been questioned from various quarters, the present PDA government has come up with the proposal to have the mini-hornbill for each tribe. The Mini Hornbill Festival will only enhance popular culture which will damage the Naga traditional heritage. In other words, such proposed festival, though in the name of tribe festival will cause violence on the otherwise rich cultural heritage of Nagas.
The relevance of this Mini-Hornbill can be best seen in the light of infrastructure and economic development but it seems to be planned within a consumerist model. However, the districts of Nagaland, living in the shadow of economic dependency syndrome, can hope to get some ‘financial package.’ Besides, common populaces at the district and village levels who cannot access the ‘grand’ Hornbill festival in the state capital can now witness it in their own backyard.
This proposed Mini-Hornbill Festival has opened a window for unnecessary government spending besides keeping the masses engaged in festivity the whole year through leaving hardly any scope for economic development. Changes have come but this surely is not the kind of change needed in the present context of Nagaland marred by various forms of problems and issues of development. Therefore, celebration of tribal festivals in the present trend and spirit cannot be put up for debate on the lines of necessity or relevance.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir is a Freelance Research Consultant. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
