What is Hornbill Festival?

About Hornbill Festival:

• It was first organized in the year 2000.
• It aims to promote inter-tribal interaction and preserve Nagaland's heritage, blending the traditional with the contemporary in a harmonious display of unity.
• It is also called the festival of festivals and is held every year.
• It is organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments of the Government of Nagaland.
• It is celebrated at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima in Nagaland.
• It has evolved into a celebration showcasing the diverse and vibrant cultural and traditional heritage of the tribes of Nagaland.
• The festival was named after the Hornbill bird given its association with the socio-cultural life of the Nagas.
• Theme of 2024 festival: The Hornbill Festival 2024, themed “Cultural Connect,” is a grand celebration of Nagaland’s rich heritage and cultural diversity.
• The festival’s appeal extends beyond culture, weaving together modernity and tradition with activities like Naga wrestling, traditional archery, food and herbal medicine stalls, fashion shows, beauty contests, and musical concerts. 
• This year, the Archives Branch is also hosting a special exhibition titled “Naga-Land & People in Archival Mirror”, in collaboration with the National Archives of India, offering an in-depth exploration of the region’s history and cultural practices.

Q1: Where is the Great Hornbill found?

It is commonly called the Great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill. It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The bulk of the population is found in India, where it is restricted to the Himalayan foothills, hill forests in northeast India and, disjunctly, the wet evergreen forests of west India.

News: Hornbill Festival: Nagaland’s biggest tourism fair, a window to the state