Neidilhoutuo Sechu
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 30
Chief Minister TR Zeliang’s suggestion for shortening the duration of The Hornbill Festival to two to three days has attracted varied opinions.
It may be recalled that T R Zeliang has mooted for the shortening of The Hornbill Festival from the 10-day long event to just 2 to 3 days. The chief minister came out with the idea citing reasons of accommodation and transportation. However, this has not been welcomed by many people.
In a telephonic conversation with Eastern Mirror, Theja Meru, president, Rattle and Hum Music Society suggested for seven days celebration, instead of ten. Theja Meru, who is also the chairman of Dream Corporation, an organization initiated and run by him, said it will be discouraging to the business community to make The Hornbill Festival a two/three days’ event.
“Even to put up a single stall, it costs a lot of money,” he said maintaining that “no individual/entrepreneur will come forth if the annual The Hornbill Festival is being reduced to two-three days celebration. “The Hornbill Festival is unique to Nagaland and this is the best we (Nagas) can give to the world,” he remarked.
Meru underscored the need to bring in more ideas and creativity so as to make the festival a grant event, while he also suggested for making the festival more tourists centric.
Stating that the festival should be made more local friendly, Meru maintained that it is the local population who are and will always be in majority to attend the festival every year.Elvis Mepfhüo, organizing member of the Hornbill International Music Festival, also argued against the opinion of the Chief Minister.
“The Hornbill Festival is a brand name that attracts tourists and corporate houses in a big way. So rather than reducing its duration, we must try to capitalize on the revenue to boost the local economy. Bringing it down to 2-3 days’ event will not be worth all the trouble that goes into organizing it,” he stated.
Former editor of Eastern Mirror, Bano Haralu was more concerned on the quality of the festival, rather than the duration.
“Be it 10, 7, 5, 3 or 2 days, what matters is the quality of the festival. It’s time we need to redesign our ideas in celebrating The Hornbill Fest,” she said adding that “we have so much to accomplish in the tourism sector during The Hornbill Festival.”
Commenting that a two-day event could be too short, Bano rather suggested for four or five days celebration. “If we make it to 2-3 days’ event, it is possible that the festival could become VIP-heavy and if this happens, the normal visitors (including local populace and tourists) will not be able to feel the ambience of the festival,” she said.
Haralu went on to say that festival should benefit the entire visitors and not only the entrepreneurs. To this, she maintained that The Hornbill Festival has become almost a bazaar where entrepreneurs make huge profits during the festival.
Founder and director of Sky Entertainment, Yanren Kikon, opined that two-three days celebration would be too short.
“The Hornbill Festival is a combination of cultural and musical event. Summing all the events under two-three days will be a tough thing to do. If it is just for 2/3 days, the event will be over just when people are beginning to get into it,” he said.
Though against the idea of 2-3 days celebration, Yanren was also not in support of the 10 days celebration stating that people gets exhausted when the festival drags on for too long.
While suggesting for a one-week celebration, he added that things will be implemented more enthusiastically and efficiently if it is reduced to seven days.
The president of Kohima Press Club, Xavier Rutsa suggested for a one-week celebration. Rutsa observed that the activities at The Hornbill Fest have not changed much since the first celebration. To this, he stressed on bringing in new things and ideas for the festival to get more recognition.
Khriesinuo Kire, advocate, and who is also part of an organizing group of the Hornbill events, also endorsed the idea of making the Hornbill event a one-week affair.
“The festival won’t be able to create a wave if it is shortened it to 2-3 days,” she said maintaining that 10 days celebration also becomes too long and exhausting.
