Once again, Nagaland is gearing up to celebrate its famous
Hornbill Festival, a 10-day annual cultural extravaganza, which will commence
next week, December 1. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the festival,
which was initiated in 2000. It is no doubt a big milestone for the state in
its endeavour towards turning it into a tourist destination by boosting the
tourism industry as well as promoting its rich cultural heritage. The state has
managed to hit both with one stone (Hornbill Festival) and quite efficiently at
that. The growing popularity of the festival and the increasing footfall of
tourists, both domestic and international, are testament of this success story.
What started out with a humble beginning 25 years ago has turned into an event
to behold, becoming an internationally recognised festival today with
government agencies from foreign countries showing eagerness to partner with
the state for the festival, as has been seen over the last few years. It has
also drawn the attention of critics, who question the government over the time
and money invested in the festival while overlooking other basic amenities like
roads. While this argument holds water with many public infrastructures, mostly
in rural areas, collapsing, the positive impact the tourism industry can have
on the state’s economy in the long run can’t be overlooked. Investment in
education, healthcare and infrastructure won’t go to waste. In the future, the
government can channel the gains made from such sectors to improve public facilities,
paving the way for sustainable development.
If the Hornbill Festival has gone global today, it is
because of the government’s relentless effort in promoting it amid criticisms
and of course, the unwavering spirit of the people. For instance, various cultural
items, including traditional games, have been incorporated into the event over
the years and several tourist-friendly initiatives, including “tourist police,”
have been introduced. This year, the government has revamped the main venue --
Naga Heritage village Kisama – in view of the 25th edition of the Hornbill
Festival and the ever-growing number of visitors. The authorities are
introducing shuttle bus services this time to address traffic woes. So what we
see today is years of effort to enhance visitors’ experiences, which forms the
foundation of a tourist destination. Having said that, the rich cultural
heritage and social traditions of the state are the cornerstone of the Hornbill
Festival’s success story. Even as the state continues to preserve its rich
culture through folk songs, dances and games, we should also showcase the
progress made in other fields, including music, to the world. Hornbill Festival
should serve as a platform to connect with the outside world- not just through
rich cultural heritage but also through its success stories. We have come a
long way as a society.
