Nagaland's famous Hornbill Festival

Why in news?

• The famous Hornbill Festival of the Naga tribes of Nagaland began on December 1.
• This is the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival.
• It is being organized at the Naga Heritage Village Kisama.
• It is being organized by the Department of Tourism, Art and Culture of Nagaland
• Japan will participate in this festival as a partner.
• Japan will participate with its cultural performances, workshops on handicrafts and bamboo products and contributions from Japanese artists and experts.

Hornbill Festival:

• It is a ten-day annual tourism promotional event organized by the Government of Nagaland.
• The event celebrates the rich traditions, culture and life of the Naga tribes.
• It is also called the “Festival of Festivals”.
• It was started in the year 2000.
• Its objective is to showcase the rich and traditional cultural heritage of Nagaland with its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur.
• This festival provides an opportunity to experience the cultural diversity of the tribes of Nagaland.
• This festival also becomes a platform for cultural exchange with other states of the Northeast.
• It attracts visitors from all over the world to experience Nagaland and its rich heritage.
• The Great Hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.

Hornbill Bird:

• This bird has an important place in the culture and folklore of the Naga tribes.
• It is also called 'Dhanesh Bird'.

Nagaland:

• Nagaland is a north-eastern state of India.
• Capital- Kohima
• Nagaland shares its border with Assam in the west, Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Burma (Myanmar) in the east and Manipur in the south.