Kisama celebrates tribal heritage as Hornbill Festival enters eighth day
Hosted by Minister Metsubo Jamir and Advisor H. Tovihoto Ayemi, the event successfully demonstrated a rich blend of traditional cultural preservation and high-level official support.
Agartala/Kohima Dec 8: The eighth day of the 26th Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama proved to be a resounding success on Monday. The Fest captivated visitors with a dazzling, extensive series of cultural presentations.
The event, meticulously executed, highlighted the sheer scale and reach of the annual 10-day celebration.
Successful Conduct
The Monday programme maintained the festival’s high standards, featuring an array of traditional dances, folk music, indigenous games, and ritual performances.
Following the established tradition, the event was officially hosted by Rural Development Minister Metsubo Jamir, with H. Tovihoto Ayemi, Advisor for Tribal Affairs and Election, serving as co-host.
The seamless management and lively atmosphere drew enthusiastic reactions from both festival visitors and participants.
Adding to the prestige of the day, the event was attended by Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communication and Rural Development, and Special Guest Chanchal Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, underscoring the importance of the festival to regional development.
A Comprehensive Display of Tribal Life
The day’s schedule was packed with unique cultural showcases representing the diverse tribal heritage of Nagaland, where over 86 percent of the population belongs to tribal communities.
The extensive lineup included cultural groups from the Lotha, Chakhesang, Konyak, Yimkhiung, Kuki, Zeliang, Garo, Chang, Kachari, Angami, Ao, Tikhir, Sumi, Pochury, Sangtam, and Phom communities.
Specific performances included the Lotha troupe’s Chumpo Shar (a celebratory dance for new Morung dedication), the Chakhesang’s Pheta (a post-harvest folk dance), and the Konyak’s Ya-ai Boa (a traditional love song).
The Yimkhiung Cultural Troupe also demonstrated a traditional children’s game, sang lolong pe (Traditional Go-Cart), which promotes teamwork and agility.
Festival Reach Extends Beyond Kisama
While the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama remains the central hub for the 26th edition. The write-up confirmed that the Hornbill Festival is also being celebrated across several districts of Nagaland, ensuring the promotion of culture reaches communities far beyond the capital region.
With the festival drawing to a close on December 10th, the success of Day 8 assures a strong finish for the high-profile edition, which has also featured six international partner nations and Arunachal Pradesh as the state partner. (With inputs from IANS)
