Nagaland: 25th Hornbill Festival Celebrates Unity, Culture, and Heritage with Grand Finale

KOHIMA: Nagaland Tourism and Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along emphasized that the Hornbill Festival transcends cultural and tribal boundaries, symbolizing a celebration of humanity. The 25th edition of the ‘Festival of Festivals’ concluded today at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, with a ceremonial bonfire marking the grand finale.

In his closing remarks, Imna Along acknowledged Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, stating that his visionary leadership had brought the Nagas together in unity, spirituality, and enthusiasm for the festival. Gloria Berbena, the Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy at the US Embassy in New Delhi, attended the closing ceremony.

The minister extended his gratitude to the Department of Art & Culture, under the leadership of Advisor K. Konngam Konyak, for uniting artists from across Nagaland and successfully presenting the state's rich culture and heritage to the world during the 10-day festival.

He praised the Tourism Department for ensuring the festival's ‘grand success’ and expressed gratitude to the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA) team for their dedication, commitment, and efforts in creating opportunities in music and arts throughout the 10-day event. 

The Nagaland Police was commended for maintaining security and ensuring seamless logistics throughout the festival, along with expressing his gratitude to the line departments, ministers, advisors, administrative heads, and department heads, under the leadership of Nagaland’s Chief Secretary Dr. J Alam, for their cooperation and collaboration.

The churches and the people of Nagaland were recognized for their positivity and dedication in fostering and taking ownership of such an empowering brand.

The tourism minister also expressed gratitude to the country and state partners, as well as ambassadors and bureaucrats, for their valuable collaboration.

The 25th edition featured a collaborative cultural experience with Japan, the USA, the United Kingdom (Wales), Peru, and Bulgaria as country partners, while Sikkim and Telangana served as the partner states. He thanked the media fraternity for promoting the festival to a global audience.

The closing program also included cultural presentations and musical performances, leaving the audience with lasting memories of the festival's distinctive blend of traditions, music, and dance. Organized by Nagaland's Tourism Department, the festival pays tribute to the majestic Hornbill, a bird highly revered by the Naga people for its alertness and grandeur.

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