Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 1 (EMN): The government of Nagaland on Friday announced that it would celebrate the Hornbill Festival this year after it was observed virtually last year in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
The confirmation came days after the chief minister and other officials hinted at celebrating the festival if the Covid-19 situation is stable.
Dubbed as the “Festival of Festivals”, the 10-day Hornbill Festival is celebrated every year from December 1 to the 10th and it has become a popular tourist attraction over the years.
Advisor for Tourism, Art and Culture, H Khehovi Yepthomi announced the decision to hold the festival at the Tourism department-initiated co-ordination meeting with the tribal hohos, at the Directorate's conference hall in Kohima.
However, Yepthomi informed that the number of days to be celebrated is yet to be finalised.
‘Right from 2000 to 2019, the festival was successful and had gained global recognition. This is because of the co-operation from all the tribes and citizens of the state,’ he said.
Till 2019, more than three lakh tourists had visited the Hornbill Festival, according to the department record.
Along with the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland will also be hosting the 9th edition of the International Tourism Mart (ITM) from November 28 to the 30th, the advisor informed.
The ITM is organised by the Ministry of Tourism to promote the Northeast. It is hosted by the north-eastern states on rotational basis and Nagaland will host it for the first time at Kisama as the main venue.
At last 500 delegates from across the world, including India are expected to attend the event.
In this regard, the advisor urged the hohos to "immediately" carry out the necessary arrangements by co-ordinating with the department. ‘Time is running out and maintenance work of the morungs has to be started as some need major renovation,’ he said while asking all the 17 tribes in the state to put their respective morungs in order before November 15.
Yepthomi, who had visited the Heritage village recently, said that most morungs were in deplorable condition. Among the 17 (tribes) morungs, only Angami, Ao and Lotha were in good condition, while the rest are in bad shape with some about to collapse, it was informed.
He appealed to all the tribal hohos to maintain their morungs throughout the year and not just during the festival. Tourists normally visit the village anytime of the year and if they are to witness the deplorable sight of the morungs, it would be embarrassing for everyone, he added.
He asked the tribal hohos to get their elected leaders "involved" in the preparation, adding that Hornbill Festival is not only for Tourism or Art and Culture department but for all.
This year, the department will enhance the amount (fund) to the hohos for maintaining the morungs, he informed.
The advisor also told the tribal hohos to complete their vaccination if not done. ‘Tribes participants, especially those coming from the villages must be vaccinated. Vaccine is nothing to do with religion or politics; it is for one's own safety,’ he said.
He went on to say that the Hornbill Festival is not for the sake of celebration but to maintain good relationship and strengthen unity among the tribes in the state.
Joint Secretary of Tourism T Yanpvuthung Kikon asserted that Nagaland is a perfect place for tourism, which is a lucrative industry; that the state has just started and needs to take a step forward.
He also stressed on tourism sustainability.
‘In Nagaland, there is no continuity in celebrations as people tend to completely stop everything after any festival or celebration. However, there has to be continuity,’ he said while suggesting the tribal hohos to celebrate their respective festival at Kisama.
'We are unable to create assets, which is why our youngsters are all working in the hospitality industry outside,' he said.
Providing more details on the ITM, Joint Director of Tourism, Veyielo Doulo said that out of 500 expected delegates, 300 would be from outside the country. He added that guests would arrive on November 28 and all the morungs have to be “lit up” by then,
Citing the department's survey in last two editions of Hornbill Festival, he informed that the public had generated a revenue of about INR 45 crore and 500 jobs created in 2018. In the following year, the revenue generation was INR 101 crore and 800 jobs.
The tribal hohos of 17 also shared their views at the meeting.