Union home minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate the 19th edition of Hornbill Festival in Nagaland’s Kisama village on Saturday.
Nagaland governor PB Acharya will be the chief host on the occasion, while US Ambassador to India, Kenneth I Juster, has been invited as the guest of honour.
The Union minister on Saturday morning tweeted: “Leaving New Delhi for Nagaland. Shall attend the inaugural session of ‘Hornbill Festival’ in Kohima. Hornbill Festival offers unique opportunity to different tribes of the State to interact with each other and share their cultural heritage with other states. Look forward to it.”
The event, known as the “Festival of Festivals” is named after the majestic Hornbill bird, which is admired and revered by all the Nagas.
Leaving New Delhi for Nagaland. Shall attend the inaugural session of ‘Hornbill Festival’ in Kohima. Hornbill Festival offers unique opportunity to different tribes of the State to interact with each other and share their cultural heritage with other states. Look forward to it.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 1, 2018
While preserving the cultural heritage of the Nagas, the festival, coinciding with the Nagaland Statehood Day, celebrates the energy and vibrancy of the people, especially the youth, as dozens of events exemplify the creativity and innovation of the younger generation.
The fest aims to display the rich traditions and the vibrant culture of Nagaland through colourful performances, crafts, sports, food fairs, games and ceremonies. As part of the festival, the Hornbill International Rock Contest is also organized. This year, 24 bands will vie for the top prize. Four bands from Nagaland and 20 visiting bands have been selected through the audition conducted on Saturday last. Altogether, 10 local bands and 44 visiting teams registered for the audition.
