Repeated failure to showcase Naga tradition and culture in Hornbill Festival

Principal Correspondent
KISAMA, DECEMBER 3

THE inaugural function of this edition of the Hornbill Festival 2014 has not been received well by many, including senior government officials as well as the general public.
MLA and advisor for Tourism department EE Pangteang on Wednesday expressed his unhappiness over the failure of organizers to showcase tradition and culture of the Naga people to the visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The inaugural function neither had any folk songs nor traditional dances, but it was all about western music and some martial arts being presented by the artists.
Speaking to a section of media persons on the sidelines of the third day Hornbill Festival, Pangteang said Hornbill is about the culture and tradition of the Naga people which is being held under the theme “Culturally Yours” and it should have been showcased during the Prime Minister’s visit.
He also regretted the repetition of the similar inaugural function that was displayed during President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the Hornbill and 50th Statehood Day celebration in 2013.
He said strict instructions were issued to the organizers not to repeat the same but it has happened this time too. He was of the opinion that western music and songs can be presented on other occasions or platforms but not in the Hornbill Festival. The Hornbill Festival should showcase the rich culture and tradition of the Naga people, he stated.
Tourists and visitors will not simply gather to listen to western music or display of some martial arts, he said while asserting that the next Hornbill Festival inaugural programme will showcase the culture and tradition of Nagas to the visiting dignitaries.
There were talks doing the rounds that this Hornbill Festival had witnessed the first ever prime ministerial visit and he should have been treated with cultural items instead of the western songs.
Even the sound system during the inaugural function was very poor compared to the present PA system being used for the cultural performances.
Though the arena had several numbers of sound box, the audio was very poor with people sitting outside the main venue anxious to listen to the live speech of the Prime Minister. But the Prime Minister’s voice was not audible to them. Even within the arena too, reporters trying to get hold of the speeches delivered by the dignitaries were finding it difficult to listen properly.
Meanwhile, the official statics maintained by the Tourism department said a total of 24,250 visitors, including 214 foreign tourists, 2,236 domestic tourists and 22,000 local people, thronged the picturesque Naga Heritage Village, Kisama on the inaugural day of the Hornbill Festival on December 1.
On Wednesday, the third day of the festival was marked by cultural performances by 17 Naga cultural troupes besides the culmination of 2nd Friendship Motor Cycle Rally commemorating World Disability Day under the aegis of Nagaland Motorcycle Club and Hornbill Charity Ball in aid of Differently Abled Children at Bamboo Hall.
Various other activities such as Kids Carnival and Nagaland Association of Adventure Mountaineering and Education (NAAME) organized adventure related activities besides the Naga and continental cuisines can also be enjoyed.