Stage set for 22nd annual Hornbill Festival 2021

November 30, 2021 112 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, NOV 30 (NPN): Tourism and art & culture adviser H. Khehovi Yepthomi said the Tourism Department was all set to host the 22nd Hornbill Festival by strictly following Covid-19 SOPs from December 1 to 10 with allied departments.

Addressing the media at the Tourism directorate here on Monday, he said all participants in the festivals would be vaccinated and tourists coming from outside the State would have to follow SOPs issued by the State government.

Yepthomi informed the media that Nagaland governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi would be the chief guest and launch the festival, while chief minister Neiphiu Rio would be the chief host and he (Khehovi) would be the festival host.

He said there would be three guests of honour– Israeli ambassador to India, consul general of Germany and consul general of United States.

He mentioned that the festival father would be from Konyak tribe, Longwa village and tribal guest from Yimkhiung tribe to invoke blessing for the festival.

He said altogether 17 cultural troupes representing each tribe would perform. Yepthomi also released booklets on the occasion.

He pointed out that this year the festival booklet was in the form of a magazine for tourists to keep it as a souvenir. Adviser to chief minister Abu Metha, who too was present, told reporters that Hornbill Festival was going through difficult times because of Covid-19.

Unlike the previous years’ preparations in advance, he pointed out that a late decision was taken by the government to host the festival keeping in view the relaxed guidelines of Government of India allowing events to take place.

Fearing that there could be lesser number of international tourists this time due to Covid-19, he felt that the number of domestic tourists could witness an upsurge because the country opened up within.

Abu remarked that Hornbill Festival was perhaps Nagaland’s most well-known festival. He said the unique feature of the festival was that the government assisted in organising it, but 90% were managed and executed by private entrepreneurs, event management groups and business community.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/stage-set-for-22nd-annual-hornbill-festival-2021/245602.html