Why do we Celebrate Hornbill Festival?

The Hornbill Festival, which is called the ‘Festivals of Festivals’, is a 10-day annual cultural fest of Nagaland that showcases the rich and diverse Naga ethnicity through folk dances, traditional music, local cuisine, handicraft, art workshops, etc.

The Festival is celebrated in Nagaland to encourage inter-tribal interaction and to preserve, protect and revive the uniqueness and richness of the Naga heritage. It is organized by State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments and also supported by Union Government.

The 21^st edition of the Hornbill festival was celebrated on a virtual platform from December 1st to 5th 2020 amid coronavirus concerns. The start of this festival (December 1) marks Nagaland statehood day.

The information on the Hornbill Festival given in the article would help candidates prepare for UPSC 2023.

The objective of the Hornbill Festival

The objective of this festival is to

1. To protect and promote the rich culture of Nagaland.
2. Revive the traditions of Nagaland.
3. To promote inter-tribal interaction.
4. Promote tourism in Nagaland, by helping the tourists experience the customs, food, songs and, dance of Nagaland.

Aspirants would find this topic very helpful in the IAS Exam.

Significance of the Hornbill Festival

• It is one of the largest indigenous festivals organized by the state government of Nagaland to promote tourism in the state.
• It provides an insight into the different Tribes of Nagaland. Naga Morungs exhibition is also organized during the festival
• The festival pays tribute to Hornbill, the most admired and revered bird for the Nagas for its qualities of alertness and grandeur. You can know in detail about the Great Indian Hornbill on the link provided here.

Other Festivals of Naga Tribe

Apart from the Hornbill festival, the other popular festival of the Nagas is the Lui Ngai Ni. It is the seed sowing festival that is celebrated by the Naga Tribes of Manipur. It is celebrated in the month of February to mark the beginning of the spring season.

Check out the list of Indian Festivals STate-wise and Season-wise on the linked page.

When did the Hornbill festival start?

The first Hornbill festival was held in December 2000. This festival is organized by the Government of Nagaland.

Where is the Hornbill festival held?

Hornbill festival is held in a village named Kisama. It is located in between 2 villages named ‘Ki’gwema and Phe’sama’. Kisama is located at a distance of 12 kms from Kohima, capital of Nagaland.

When is the Hornbill festival held and how did derive its name?

Hornbill festival is held from 1st December to 10th December. The festival derives its name from the bird named Hornbill. It is called the festival of festivals.

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