Hornbill Festival out of Control

It is written in Exodus 20:3-4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image- any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

For the Hornbill Festival 2025, Nagaland Government has partnered with Ireland, Austria, Malta, France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, with Arunachal Pradesh as the partner state. Now, this is excellent, a very commendable work by the Government of Nagaland.

In this time of partnership, we are seeing so many cultural exchanges. Relationships are being built between partner countries, state and Nagaland. Yet in this journey of partnership and cultural exchange, our Nagaland Government has ended up erecting idol of Irish goddess Danu at Kisama Heritage Village.

Some may say it’s just a sculpture or a statue. Some may say it’s a work of art nothing more. But a sculpture or a statue may not be an idol. Statue of Liberty is not a idol, the statue of Don Bosco in Dimapur is not an idol. People don’t worship it. But an “idol” is above sculpture, statue or work of art. An idol is a representation of a deity, a god worthy of worship, religious devotion and beliefs. Danu is an Irish deity, a female god. Danu is the ancient mother goddess of the tribe of Danu in Ireland. The Danu tribal people were very gifted in magical art. She is associated with earth, fertility, wisdom, and water.

Are we evoking the wrath of God by going against what God said not to do in Exodus 20:3-4? Because God demands absolute worship and reverence and forbids making of dols in any shape of form. Sure there is a lot of cultural exchange happening at the Hornbill Festival. The Irish people have rich culture and tribes like us Nagas. Wonderful people. But most respectfully, going to the extent of erecting an idol of a goddess which goes against the belief of another is not a pleasant situation. I am sure the great Irish people would agree. We respect all religious belief and tradition. We must know its jurisdiction and limitation.

Erecting an idol in a place of worship is ok. Indian constitution permits the freedom of religion and belief but Indian Constitution does not permit freedom to erect idols wherever and whenever one wishes. In Nagaland, there are many temples of worship with many idols of gods and goddess. There is no issue with it because these idols of gods and goddesses are in their own respective place of worship and beliefs. Hornbill Festival is not a festival of worship. Kisama Heritage Village is not a temple. Erecting an idol of any god or goddesses in the name of Hornbill Festival is not morally right. Cultural exchange should not include exchange of gods or erecting idols of gods or goddesses in the name of any festival in Nagaland. Cultural exchange should not go against the word of God.

Tomorrow, someone may say why just idol of Danu? Why not the idol of goodess Lakshmi or Durga Maa. They may say aren’t we Indians, so why not erect an Indian goddess. Because as Indian, we must first give preference to India. What will the Government of Nagaland answer to that? You cannot allow one idol to be erected and stop the other idols from being erected. It would be seen as partiality. I have great respect for all the partner countries and their beautiful colours of amazing cultures. I guess it was our government’s sheer oversight that an idol was permitted to be erected in Kisama Heritage village. Will the government make right what is wrong? Wonder what the view of our State Chaplin is on this matter. This is not my view or idea but this is the word of God as mentioned in Exodus20:3-4. Any issue related to this matter may be taken up with the author of the book of Exodus. God bless us all.

Imlisanen Phom