Context

• Hornbill Annual Festival was organised in Nagaland from 1 to 10 December.
• This festival is a center of attraction for tourists not only from all over India but also from all over the world.

Key Points

• The festival is being jointly organised by the state tourism art and culture departments at the Naga Heritage Village Kisama, about 12 km from Kohima.
• In its 24th edition, this year's festival sees international participation including musicians from countries such as Germany and Colombia.
• Its primary objective is to revive and preserve the rich cultural traditions of Nagaland, giving a glimpse of the diverse cultural aspects of life of all the tribes of the state.

Cultural significance of Hornbill Festival

• The hornbill is known as the 'festival of festivals'.
• Another objective of the event organised by the Nagaland government is to promote inter-tribal interaction and the cultural heritage of the region.
• A variety of cultural activities including music, dance, songs and more are being organised in this 10-day festival.
• The unity dance performed by participants from different Naga tribes adds to the cultural richness of the carnival.

Hornbill

• The festival takes its name from the Indian bird, the concave-cascaded hornbill, which holds cultural significance for the Naga people.
• Found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the bird is a cultural icon and features prominently in the folklore of most Naga tribes.

Economic Importance of Hornbill

• According to state tourism, arts and culture advisor H Khehowi Yeputhomi, the 2019 festival had generated a collective revenue of Rs 75 crore for entrepreneurs and participants. Due to which the economy of the state got a boost.
• 2018 also saw similar economic benefits, with Rs 45 crore generated during the festival and 500 jobs created.
• In the year 2022, a revenue of Rs 109 crore was earned through the Hornbill Festival.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EXAM

Nagaland

• Capital: Kohima (Executive Branch)
• Chief minister: Neiphiu Rio
• Official animal: Gayal
• Official flower: Rhododendron arboreum
• Official bird: Blyth's tragopan