Beyond Festival Stages

The Naga society underwent a significant social and cultural transformation with the arrival of Christianity in the mid-19th century. With the new religion came modern education and healthcare, which became the driving force behind social and economic development in the region. The traditional practice of headhunting, rooted in vengeful customs, was abandoned, leading to an era of peace and brotherhood. We could be in a different world today if not for the changes brought about by Christianity. There is no second opinion about it. However, what has been debated and will continue to do so is the erosion of traditional values and practices, including indigenous religion. The same forces that transformed the Naga society in many profound ways have also undermined social traditions, particularly those not in tandem with Christian belief, resulting in a loss of culture. But then, the identity of individuals or ethnic groups is deeply intertwined with their cultural heritage, which plays a crucial role in binding a society and fostering a sense of belonging. In short, loss of culture is loss of identity. Hence the current efforts at various levels—state government, civil society organisations and educational institutions—to revive and preserve Nagas’ rich cultural heritage for future generations before it is lost entirely. Several rituals associated with the Naga indigenous religion, like animal sacrifices, may not be practised again, which can be taken as a good riddance, but tradition and culture shouldn't be viewed from the same lens.

Today, cultural festivals play a significant role in preserving culture and tradition through songs, dances, and indigenous games. This is one of the reasons why the government of Nagaland has been promoting major tribal festivals, which are strongly inter-woven in the culture, tradition, and social life of people passed down for generations. The state's renowned Hornbill Festival was also launched in 2000 with a vision to preserve and promote the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Naga tribes and to showcase the same to the outside world. Today, it has transformed into one of the most popular festivals in the country. However, over the years, this cultural extravaganza has become sort of a showpiece, which involves commodification and superficial display of cultural dances and songs for thousands of visitors, rather than celebrating it with genuine engagement, authenticity and respect. Cultural events, including the Hornbill Festival, should not be reduced to showpieces. We should celebrate our culture and tradition.