Grand end to Hornbill Fest on State’s Golden Jubilee Year

Correspondent
KISAMA, DECEMBER 10

CURTAINS came down the biggest indigenous festival and the annual tourism promotional event of the Government of Nagaland, Hornbill Festival with 17 Naga tribes performing the ‘Unity Dance’ here at the picturesque venue.The 10-day long festival at the Naga Heritage Village, some 12 kms South of the state capital witnessed near about 2 lakh visitors, including foreign, domestic and local tourists witnessing the performances of the 17 Naga tribes.
Declaring the Hornbill Festival closed, Nagaland Minister for Tourism, E E Pangteang acknowledged the participation of the cultural troupes and visitors for making the biggest cultural festival a success.
The minister also thanked commissioner & secretary for tourism art & culture Himato Zhimomi and his team of officials for bringing laurels to the department.
Further, Pangteang thanked chief minister Neiphiu Rio who inspite of his busy schedule have personally supervised all activities from day one till the end.
The visitors alongside the tourists joined the cultural troupes as they yodeled and danced to the rhythmic beat of the drum around the bon fire which was lit by the Minister Pangteang, and Miss Nagaland 2013 Benjongmenla.
Prizes were also given away by the Minister Tourism at the closing ceremony to the winner of Hornbill Master Chef 2013- Yanrhonthung Odyuo who received a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh.
Nyeitok Konyak was also recognised during this festival as the best craftsman 2013.
Further, Alim (Kohima) bearing ticket No 3827, Akali (Dimapur) bearing ticket no. 840 and Kuku Khana (bearing ticket no 861) were declared Ist, 2nd and 3rd respectively in Hornbill Shopping Festival Raffle draw 2013 and received a Maruti 800 each.
Later, Pangteang thanked the participation of the cultural troupes and all the visitors for making the festival a grand success.
He thanked all the cultural troupe for the “most valued and memorable cultural presentation.” the tribal Hohos, NGOs and all the department for making the annual Hornbill festival a successful one.
This year the Hornbill fest recorded footfall of 1,86,030 visitors in Kisama alone. This included 1457 foreign 15,881 and 1,68,700 local visitors.
The Hornbill Festival this year coincided with the 50th anniversary of the statehood of Nagaland and was officially launched by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee on December 1.