Hornbill Festival 2022 begins

Our Correspondent
Kisama | December 2

The ten day long Hornbill Festival 2022 made a colourful start this evening at the picturesque Naga Heritage Village, Kisama in the presence of Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India.

Gracing the opening ceremony, Dhankhar described the natural beauty of Nagaland as enchanting and underlined that the state has great tourism potential which needs to be tapped fully. “I am thrilled, enthralled and captivated by the energy of Naga boys and girls, ” he said.

My salutation to you, he said. It is a great day in my life. I will never forget it, the Vice President added. Praising Nagas for their unique culture and glorious history, Dhankhar said “I salute tribal culture. I salute your energy.”

Noting that India has assumed the presidency of G-20 from today, Dhankhar said the world will be able to experience Naga hospitality when a meeting of G20 will be held in the State in April next year.

He also congratulated the people of Nagaland on its statehood day, which falls on December 1. Dhankar further congratulated the people of Nagaland for sending a woman as its representative to the Rajya Sabha, which, he said, speaks for empowerment of women.

He pointed out that Nagaland is a focus centre of the ‘Look East and Act East’ policy of the Central Government and that development is taking place in a big way. Funds have been earmarked and I can see development taking place, he said.

Dhankhar inaugurated the festival by beating the gong along with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Later, Dhankhar released a postage stamp to commemorate the festival. He also visited the art gallery and morungs at Kisama.

Invoking traditional blessings, Yekhüsü Tureng from Porba village of Phek district said: “May the Nagas be a God fearing nation through Jesus Christ. May the Nagas live in unity. May the Nagas live honestly. May the Nagas be a blessed nation. May the Nagas be a prosperous nation. May the Nagas be a bold and fearless nation.”

Honoured guests for the inaugural day—Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, Alan Gemmell, Trade Commissoner for South Asia and British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India and Barry O’Farrell, Australian High Commissioner to India also addressed the opening ceremony.

H Khehovi Yeputhomi, Advisor Tourism and Art & Culture, Nagaland proposed vote of thanks. The programme was followed by a cultural presentation entitled ‘This is Nagaland.’

‘For peace and prosperity’
Nagaland Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi stated it is easy to understand why this festival attracts so many guests from throughout the country and around the world.

He called upon everyone to create a conducive atmosphere for welcoming the new dawn for a peaceful and progressive Nagaland. “Look back and introspect at what has been achieved over the last 60 years, and what ground remains to be covered. We have witnessed a mix of both achievements and difficulties for Nagaland during the past 6 decades. Today, Nagaland is at the edge of making history,” he stated.

With the support from all the stakeholders including the general populace, the Governor maintained that there is an opportunity for lasting peace. “I congratulate all the Naga groups for having come so far. I am confident that a final agreement – one that is fair to all and meets the expectations and aspirations of all – will be reached soon,” he said.

The Governor added that as people look forward to Christmas and the New Year, “this is the time for renewal and resolutions; the time to work for peace and prosperity; above all, the time to fulfil the dreams of the terrific young people of Nagaland.” 

‘A symbol of Brand Nagaland’
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the Hornbill Festival exemplifies the “Naga way of life,” celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Naga people along with the rest of the north eastern states, showcasing unity and oneness under a spirit of solidarity. 

“It is aimed at protecting, preserving and promoting the culture and heritage of the people, while creating opportunities for economic growth and employment generation,” he said.

The CM added that the festival expresses the energy, vibrancy and the ambition of the new generation of Naga youth. “The festival is a symbol of Brand Nagaland and the emerging Naga Soft Power,” he added. 

He meanwhile noted that the Government of India has acknowledged the uniqueness of Naga history and culture. “Nagas, in the words of the Prime Minister are the guardians of the eastern frontier and our gateway to the world beyond,” Rio stated.

Maintaining that the Nagas “are a proud and a fighting race,” Rio stated that “generations of our people have made significant contributions towards the nation building process.” He said that today, the Naga people aspire for genuine peace, and are hopeful that with the successful conclusion of the peace process, Naga contributions in the forward  march of this great nation will only increase, and Nagas will be able to play a contributory role in the interest of humanity on the global stage.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/hornbill-festival-2022-begins