The 18th edition of the Hornbill festival culminated on 10th Dec, 2017 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama with Governor of Nagaland, P.B. Acharya as the Chief Guest. The Chief Minister of Nagaland and the Chief host, T.R Zeliang and Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and host of the Hornbill festival, C. Apok Jamir also attended the programme.
Unity dance around the bonfire at the concluding day of the Hornbill Festival on December 10,2017, Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
Speaking at the programme, the Chief Guest said that he was honoured and privileged to be a part of the programme. He said Hornbill Festival is designed in such a manner that it coincides with Statehood Day Celebration which gives an opportunity to all the Naga tribes to converge at one location to showcase the best of their tribal costumes, songs and dances.
He thanked the Chief Minister, his Cabinet colleagues, particularly C. Apok Jamir, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Eshak Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary for Art & Culture and their Officers and Staff for successful conduct of Hornbill Festival which has become an international event now. He also congratulated the Information & Public Relations Department for giving wide publicity of all events. He said this year’s Hornbill Festival was attended by a galaxy of high dignitaries including the first citizen of our country, Ram Nath Kovind who inaugurated the festival on 1st December.
People from different walks of life from across the world participated in this year’s Hornbill Festival which is a remarkable achievement for the Tourism Department, he said. As per reports, the number of tourists has increased manifold from previous years which is a positive sign thereby Nagaland has gained a notable position in the world tourism map, he added.
Nagaland has the potential to become the most populous eco-tourism spot in the North East. We must take this advantageous position to address our unemployment problem. Tourism can be one of the biggest revenue earning departments, he stated.
He also congratulated the Departments who have put up stalls and pavilions – like Horticulture, Floriculture etc and also organized various cultural events like Night Carnival, Handshake Concert at Raj Bhavan, International Music Festival at Dimapur, International Rock contest 2017, Craftscape 2017, different competitions like Fashion Show etc. He conveyed his warm greetings to all the people and wished Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Apok Jamir in his speech thanked the President, Ramnath Kovind for gracing the inaugural day of the Hornbill Festival 2017. He aslo thanked the Governor, PB Acharya for being the brand Ambassador of the Festival.
He expressed hope that the ten-day celebration of the Hornbill festival has given the opportunity for the tourists to peep into the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the sixteen naga tribes. He appreciated the younger generation for taking the responsibilities in the Celebration. “This shows that the youths are prepared to take up the mantle of preserving our rich cultural heritage” he said. He urged the tourists and the Nagas to spread the message of peace and unity and to resolve to protect and preserve the fragile eco-system.
Delivering the vote of thanks Chief Minister, T.R Zeliang said the festival gained popularity despite of the remoteness and lack of proper infrastructure. This has been possible due to our collective effort, he said expressing his gratitude to the people for the efforts put in and making the festival a grand success.
With regard to the much debated issue of reducing the hornbill festival to 7 days, he said after seeing the response of the people, the tourist and the success of the festival, he prefers the festival to continue for ten days. The State Government shall take a call on the issue in due course of time, he added.
Expressing gratitude to the cultural troupes from other North East States including Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Madhya Pradesh, Zeliang said their participation has contributed immensely towards cultural integration of the country besides, adding colour to the festival.
The bonfire was lit by the Chief Guest, Chief Host, Host, Miss Nagaland and Runners up which was followed by a unity dance.
Cultural extravaganza on the last day of the Hornbill Festival
Chakhesang cultural troupe performing the marking of Sukrunye festival on December 10, 2017.
“Culturally Yours,” a cultural extravaganza presented by the Department of Art & Culture, concluded on 10th December, 2017 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama. Altogether, 17 outstanding cultural troupes presented to the visitors, a glimpse into the rich cultural songs, dances and traditions of the tribes of Nagaland.
On the last day of the festival, all the 17 cultural troupes enthralled the crowd with their performances. The Sangtam tribe presented a folk song ‘The fruit of hard labour is sweet,’ which signifies that the crops bear much grains and their fatigue fades away when they sing. The Zeliang tribe performed a farewell dance, ‘Chehin Phinbe Lim’ where, at the culmination of all celebratory activities, the young and old join in singing and dancing, reluctant to end the joyful occasion.
Sumi cultural troupe presenting a farewell Song ‘Asheka Kikini Lejole’.
Shangpila was presented by the Chang tribe which is a girls and boys song, sung since the olden days. A popular folk dance, ‘Saipi Khupsuh’ was performed by the Kuki cultural troupe; this folk dance originated when forefathers of the Kukis were living in Chin Hills in Burma (Myanmar) and is performed after a war victory or in honour of a hunter who brought home a big game. The Garo tribe presented to the crowd a folk song, ‘Dim Dim Chong’ which is performed by both girls and boys during Wangala, a post harvest festival of the Garos.
Badey Badey Sow Low-o, a folk song performed by the Pochury tribe is sung during the feast, marking the happy occasion of cementing relationship with neighbouring villages. The Khiamniungan cultural troupe performed Jamhang, an indoor dance which is hosted by a well to do prominent person from the village who wants to share his blessings and wealth with the people during feast of merit. Shem Shupu, a ritual, performed by the Phom tribe takes place during ‘Lannyang Shem,’ log drum pulling event, with the people praising the log drum saying ‘’May your echoes be heard to all humanity and may we all prosper under your echoes.’’ ‘Eloe loroe tona khyingroe rumphi khen,’ performed by the Lotha tribe is a processional song and dance by young males and females who dance and sing across the village, feasting on rice beer prepared by the village priest during the month of October.
A traditional sacrificial ritual, ‘Oü Yok Pe’ was performed by the Konyak tribe in which, they sacrifice animals and vegetables to please the gods for abundant blessings. This ritual is usually done right after the Aoleang festival. The Sumi tribe performed a farewell song, ‘Ashekha Kikini Lejole’ which is sung at the end of any big festival or ceremony; it is a song of thanksgiving also. The Ao cultural troupe presented to the audience a drama, ‘Longmah Jenshir Otsu’ which depicts the life of Longmah villagers during an extraordinary situation when the village produce thirty rich men who decide to offer the feast of merit. Also, the Rengma cultural troupe presented Tefu Kejen (Cotton spinning), the Kachari tribe performed Boi Jabon, the Angami tribe presented Lave-o and the Chakhesang cultural troupe presented a performance, marking the Sükrünye festival.
Exhibition of Naga Crafts concludes at Kisama
10 days exhibition of craftscape, A portfolio on the Naga crafts concluded at Kisama this evening, the 10th Dec, 2017. The exhibition was organized by Tribal Weave in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Art & Culture.
During the short closing ceremony, Sentila T. Yanger, Chief Functionary, Tribal Weave thanked the participants for taking part enthusiastically. She encouraged them to participate in the next Hornbill festival. Altogether six stalls participated at the exhibition.
Parvej Akhtar, Kehunülü Theyo win HIPFEST photo contest
Winners of the HIPFEST photo contest 2017 along with the Director IPR, Limawati Ao on December 10 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
Parvej Akhtar from Kolkata and Kehunülü Theyo from Nagaland won the HIPFEST photo contest and HIPFEST Kids contest 2017 organised by the Department of Information & Public Relations in collaboration with Eastern Art Council on 10th December, 2017 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
Speaking at the culmination programme, Director, IPR, Limawati Ao expressed appreciation to all the participants who had participated in the competition and thanked all the participants, both local and from abroad, who have contributed their photographs for the competition. The competition would not have been possible without their participation and contribution, he said. He encouraged the participants to come forward with their photos for the competition even in the coming years. He also thanked the department officials and organisers from Eastern Art Council for showing keen interest for the success of the competition.
During the programme, he also gave away the prizes to the winners of the competition as follows:
Results of the HIPFEST photo contest 2017
1st – Parvej Akhtar (Kolkata)
2nd – Priyojit Akoijam (Manipur)
3rd – Metsungnakba Longchar (Nagaland)
Consolation-
1) Maong Longkumer (Nagaland)
2) Dr. Longri Kichu (Nagaland)
HIPFEST Kids Contest 2017
1st – Kehunülü Theyo /class 6 / G. Rio School/ Nagaland
2nd – Abi Mor/ Class 9 / Nagaland
3rd – Sinlo Seb / Class 4 / G. Rio School / Nagaland
Consolation-
1) Rangala Songduimei / Class 4 / St. Anthony / Manipur
2) Thungja / Class 5 / Nagaland
Rokokhono Rhutso Nyekha wins Naga Chef Season-5
Winners of the Naga Chef competition along with the judges, Parliamentary Secy, Tourism C.Apok Jamir on December 10 at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
Naga Chef Season-5 which began on 2nd December 2017 concluded on 10th day of the Hornbill Festival. Out of the ten contestants that participated Rokokhono Rhutso won the competition and walked away with cash prize of 3 lakhs. Khrusatolu Chuzho and Shiumai Phom came in second and third place. Nisi Chase, the youngest contestant (14 years old) came in fourth at the competition.
Naga Chef is an annual event which is organized by Synergy Group Enterprises in partnership with the Department of Tourism Nagaland. It is held to exhibit the different delicacies of the various tribes of Nagaland and to promote indigenous Naga cuisines to the rest of the world.
All news and pictures courtesy DIPR, Kohima
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