The Nagaland Government and the Japanese Embassy in India announced that Japan will be the country partner for the upcoming 10-day Hornbill Festival 2024, scheduled to begin on December 1 at Kisama near Kohima. Alongside Japan, the United Kingdom (Wales) will also serve as a partner country.
Key Announcements and Initiatives:
- Partnership Announcement:
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- The announcement came after Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his cabinet met with Takashi Ariyoshi (Deputy Chief of Mission) and Mayumi Tsubakimoto (First Secretary) from the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi.
- Activities by Japan:
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- Participation in cultural and musical performances.
- Conducting workshops on handicrafts and bamboo products.
- Involvement of Japanese resource persons, master craftspersons, and musicians for capacity building.
- Corporate Participation:
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- Toyota, a Japanese corporate house, will collaborate with Nagaland’s Task Force for Music and Arts for the festival.
Hornbill Festival: Overview
Hornbill Festival
- A festival celebrated in Nagaland to promote inter-tribal interaction and showcase the cultural heritage of the state.
- Referred to as the “Festival of Festivals.”
Historical Background
- The first Hornbill Festival was held in the year 2000.
Venue
- Held at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, located approximately 12 km from Kohima, Nagaland.
Organizers
- Organized by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments of the Government of Nagaland.
Objective
- To encourage inter-tribal interaction and promote the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland.
Key Highlights of the Festival
- Traditional Naga Morungs exhibition.
- Sale of arts and crafts, food stalls, and cultural performances, including songs and dances.
- Indigenous games and activities.
- Hornbill International Rock Festival: A major attraction featuring performances by local and international rock bands.
Great Hornbill: Connection and Importance
- Scientific Name: Buceros bicornis.
- Common Name: Great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill.
- Range:
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- Found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
- In India, its population is concentrated in the Himalayan foothills, northeast hill forests, and the wet evergreen forests of western India.
- Conservation Status:
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- IUCN Status: Near Threatened.
- Listed in Appendix I of CITES.
- Cultural and Tribal Importance:
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- Its size and vibrant appearance make it significant in various tribal cultures and rituals.
- The Great Hornbill is the state bird of Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Nagaland Connection:
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- Though the festival honors the hornbill, the state bird of Nagaland is Blyth’s Tragopan, not the hornbill.
