‘Unity Dance’ marks colourful conclusion of Hornbill Festival

Principal Correspondent Kisama, December 10 The biggest indigenous festival and the annual tourism promotional event of the Government of Nagaland aptly coined as the festival of festivals – “The Hornbill Festival 2014” came to a colourful end with the Naga tribes performing the ‘Unity Dance’ here at the picturesque venue of the festival. Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang formally declared the festival close while also lighting the bon fire along with reigning Miss Nagaland Veineinem Singsong followed by the ‘Unity Dance’ of Naga tribes. The 10-day long festivities witnessed about 1.80 lakh visitors, including foreign, domestic and local tourists thronging the mountainous terrain witnessing the performances of Naga tribes and also from the Northeastern region. Till the penultimate day, a total of 1,51,804 visitors, including 1110 foreign tourists, 15,694 domestic tourists and 1,35,000 local visitors had witnessed the festival of festivals at Kisama alone. As the curtains came down to the festivities, the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues, dignitaries and tourists joined the ‘Unity Dance’ with excitement and fanfare. Marking the closing function, the Chief Minister felicitated the winners of Great Hornbill Adventure Trail (GHAT) while prizes for Hornbill Shopping Festival and Master Chef Competition were handed over by MLA and Advisor Tourism E.E. Pangteang. The Department of Tourism presented citation and cakes to all the cultural troupes who participated during the ten day Hornbill Festival 2014. Subsequently, popular band Purple Fusion enthralled the crowd with presentation of original folk fusion. Mention may be made here that, The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi coinciding with the 51st Statehood Day celebrations on December 1 and concluded this evening.