Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of Nagaland on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Hornbill festival. Nagaland’s signature tourism and cultural festival, “Hornbill Festival”, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024.

The Hornbill festival was launched in 2000 by the Nagaland government as a celebration of Naga culture but over a period of time has grown in popularity and stature, attracting national and international visitors.

The Hornbill Festival, also famous as the “Festivals of Festivals”, derives its name from the elusive Hornbill bird.

During the festival,17 tribes of Nagaland showcase their culture and tradition through dances, processions, art exhibits and musical performances.

Opening Ceremony and Partner Country

The Opening ceremony of the 25th edition of Hornbill festival was held in the Kisama Heritage Village on 1 December 2024 and it was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio.

This year the international partners of the Hornbill festival are the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, and Peru.

The partner state of this year's Hornbill festival is Sikkim.

The opening ceremony saw the participation of Nagaland's Governor La Ganesan, Ambassadors of the United States,Japan and Peru and the British High Commissioner to India.

Popular music composer A R Rahman was also a guest at the opening ceremony.

Organiser of the Hornbill Festival

The Hornbill Festival is jointly organised by the State government’s Tourism and Art & Culture Department at the Kisama Heritage Village.

The 10-day Hornbill festival starts on 1 December and ends on the 10th of December.

1st of December is also the foundation day of the state of Nagaland, which came into existence on 1st December 1963 under the provision of the State of Nagaland Act 1962.

About Kisama Heritage Village

The Kisama Heritage Village was established by the Nagaland government in 2003 as a model village representing the cultures of all the tribes of the state.

The Village which was constructed on the land of two villages- Kigwema and Phesama, also borrows its name from them, Ki from Kigwema and Sama from Phesama.

The village is 12 km from the state capital Kohima, but lies in the district of Kohima.

The Kisama village has been designed as a tourist spot and has seventeen dormitories or morungs, one for each tribe of Nagaland.

The Konyak Tribe, also known as the headhunter tribe,, is the largest tribal group in Nagaland.

The Heritage Village also hosts a World War II museum, Bamboo Heritage Hall and Pavillion, food courts and a stadium for live concerts.