Hornbill festival is an annual event held in Kisama Heritage Village in Nagaland, a tribal state in India.It usually runs from the 1st – 10th December of every year and celebrates the culture and heritage of Naga tribes.

It is named after hornbills, the species of birds abundant in the region. Nagaland, is practically a land of festivals with each of their numerous tribes celebrating their own festivals and to promote the rich cultural heritage. It’s predominantly a festival to promote tourism to Nagaland and has done an amazing job.

Fondly called the “Festival of Festivals”, the annual event was conceived as a tourism promotion activity at Kisama, (which is about 10 kms from the capital Kohima). The location is called Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, where one can enjoy the Naga lifestyle and culture, food, music and tradition of each of those 18-20 clans, all at the at same place. Besides the usual showcasing of dance, music, art, ethnic foods, handlooms and handicrafts of various Naga clans, many other eccentric contests and activities are organized such as, King Chilly Eating Contest, Pork Fat Eating Contest, Martial Art Contest etc.

Sample local Naga cuisine, drink rice beer, play with traditional instruments, get cosy by the campfire of the Morungs and rock out with the locals once the sun goes down.

Hornbill tells a story of culture with a cocktail of colours, sounds, people, textures and vibrancy. Visit Hornbill Festival to discover the breath-taking tribes of Nagaland!

The Hornbill Festival will start on 1st December and will go till 10th December 2022. The main venue of the Hornbill Festival, 2022 is Kohima, the capital of Nagaland.

While heading to the Hornbill Festival, you will need to acquire certain permits before you can enter Nagaland-
 

Indian citizens who are not residents of Nagaland need an inner line permit to enter the state. If you are planning to visit Nagaland for the festival then you can apply for the permit online.
 

Apart from the inner line permit, you also need to acquire a Protected Area Permit to enter Nagaland. You can get the permit from All Indian Missions abroad or the All Foreigners Regional Registration Officers (FRRO) in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

 

 

Nearly all of the activities take place at the Kisama Heritage Village which is located near Nagaland’s capital Kohima.

 

Kohima can be reached by road – a trip that takes up to three hours – from Dimapur which is where the state’s airport is. The airport is serviced by major local airlines.

 

There is also a railway station in Dimapur which links to the cities of Guwahati in Assam and Kolkata in West Bengal. Guwahati and Kolkata link in turn to many of India’s major railway lines. Travelling by train is slow but the best way to enjoy the most scenic views along the way.

 

Over 16 major tribes and several other sub tribes make Nagaland the wonder that it is. All these tribes have diverse rituals, assorted practices and yet share a surprisingly similar way of life.

 

A pleasant place for art lovers from round the world, the hornbill festival will definitely satisfy your thirst for experiencing quality and the finest art Nagaland has to offer. Traditional arts and indigenous crafts play an extremely important part in making this carnival a success. From rural games, delicious food fairs and oddly pleasant ceremonies is the heart of this festival. The paintings, wood carvings and sculpture displays are presented in complete pride and impressive vigor to the attendees.

 

What makes this festival unique and one of a kind is the international rock concert competition held at the hornbill festival. This crown jewel of the gala is considered as a Launchpad for several new coming bands. 

 

The city of Kohima comes to life during the hornbill festival’s vibrant and lively night bazaar. This is done in an attempt to bring the visitors and the participating tribes closer through their common love for food, handicrafts and the crisp winter air. This all-out fair is the happy place for families looking for a fun time out with dazzling festivities and positivity.

 

Food lovers rejoice! The Naga food that is presented in this magical carnival is equally traditional and gives you a taste of their rich history. Usually the core ingredient for most of the dishes is red meat and fish. The traditional spices are used in their preparation making each bite burst with intense flavor. These red meats are prepared in various styles like, smoking it, drying it or even fermenting it.

Author - Shashi Parvat (Entrepreneur, Foodie & Traveler)

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