Mon edition of the Hornbill Festival 2025 showcases vibrant celebration of local culture and entrepreneurship.
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DIMAPUR — The second day of the Mon edition of the International Hornbill Festival 2025 was a vibrant celebration of local culture and entrepreneurship, with a stretch of stalls selling ethnic wears, traditional handicrafts, and culinary items to visitors, generating employment opportunities in the district.
Speaking to the DPRO, Mon, the organisers of the stalls highlighted the display and sale of various traditional and modern ethnic wears including the waist- coats, neck tie, and earnings made of fine beads and shawls of varied colours.
The stalls also featured spears and daos smelted from across the district including from Wakching areas, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the region, a DIPR report stated.
The second day of the festival also featured a diverse array of culinary items for sale, including Namann, a traditional biscuit made of sesame seed, donuts produced from fox-tailed millets, gooseberry pickles, wild-apples snacks, and more.
The stall set up by the Agriculture department, Mon, offered oil palm seeds from Tizit area, jobstears millets, taro (yam), and other local produce.
Handicrafts and artisanal items were also on display, including intricately crafted kettles and cups carved out of bamboo, woven with thin bamboo strips creating motifs on the outer parts, as well as beautifully crafted bamboo baskets.
Also read: Irish Deputy Ambassador lauds Konyak heritage at International Hornbill Festival in Mon
The organisers of the stalls extended an invitation to visitors to explore the various stalls, savour the unique flavours of Konyak culinary items, and take home souvenirs handmade by local Mon artistes.
The participants at the stalls included the Progressive SHG Chen block, Khongphang SHG- Angjangyang, Shoalam SHG Tizit block, Pannyungu Yonglan SHG Wakching block, Mon block, the departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, and others.
‘Roots to revelry’ at gala evening
The first day of the International Hornbill Festival in Mon concluded with an evening gala on the theme ‘Roots to revelry,’ which witnessed remarkable performances by various artistes from across the district, at Konyak Heritage Complex, on December 8.
Addressing the event as the guest of honour, K Naiba Konyak, MLA, lauded the government of the day led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for his initiative in extending the International Hornbill Festival to Mon district.
He also lauded the departments of Under-Developed Areas (DUDA) and Art & Culture for their keen interest in organising the festival.
Naiba encouraged the gatherings to preserve the rich heritage and culture of the Konyaks and showcase it to the world. He appealed for public support, stating that the festival would promote tourism and boost the district's economic growth.
Earlier, during the indigenous games competition, Ngangwang of Jahjon Ward, Mon, and Tahmao Ngenlih of Shamnyu Ward, Mon, won the first prizes in traditional fire-making (male) and rice-pounding (female) competitions, respectively.