Once again Hornbill celebration has become contentious
amongst the Naga Christians. It is not a complex issue, but since it wrestles
with culture and religion, modernity and tradition, people have varied
opinions. Hornbill Festival is the State’s initiative and we must endorse it,
if it is helping the State to generate revenue, publicity, showcasing Naga
culture and traditions. Let the government decide what it perceived may be for
the best interest of the State. As Christians living in this world, we cannot
always dichotomize secular and sacred. Christians are called to be witnesses in
the world. If Christians are to shy away from social, political and cultural
activities, we limit our influence of being the ‘salt and the light’ of this
world.
Martin Luther had the same attitude. He wanted to get rid of
his evil thoughts and sought spiritual fulfilment by joining a monastery. Only
to find that all his previous thoughts followed him there. Though Nagaland’s
population is about 90% Christians, we do not envision a theocratic state.
However, Christians must influence and push the government on the universal
Christian principles of justice, equity and honesty for peaceful
coexistence.
Hornbill is just a bird and there is no special worship or
adoration that is given to this bird. The Hornbill is not even the State bird
of Nagaland. But culturally, Hornbill has been highly respected and honoured by
our ancestors. Our forefathers did not even worship this bird as part of their
religious rituals. Most commonly, people use its feathers as attire in the
headgear. The sad part is that the bird is on the verge of extinction. There
are some people who are objecting the participation of pastors praying for the
Hornbill Festival, for the fact that, non-Christians are called to invoke a
misconstrued blessing prior to the celebration.
The objection mostly comes from the rationale thatsoon after
the prayer all sorts of unacceptable practices such as drunkenness and other
questionable behaviours are being practiced. We know that prayer is neither a
magic spell nor a rubbing genie done with the intention to manipulate a higher
power. We cannot limit our God to gender, religion and culture. God is much
beyond these human constructed ideas and traditions. In fact, God is even
beyond our civilisation and the universe. God is not only the God of
Christians; He is also the God for all nations and tribes across the globe. To
expect pastors to only pray for Christians and coercing them only to pray in
Christian gatherings are rather signs of immaturity in faith.
I would suggest that Pastor/Father/priest would pray to
awaken the conscience of the people; to pray for courage and stand for the
truth, the will to wade against injustice and violence, to voice against any
kind of exploitation. Christians must keep themselves away from things that
will destroy their testimony. At the end of the day, it is the individual who
makes the choice.
On morality, it is not just during Hornbill time that people
fall prey to immorality. Human lustful desire has been part of human history
ever since the fall of Adam and Eve. One thing we must know ourselves is that
our exposure to modernity is quite young. We have not yet arrived to the full
sense of modernity. We all evolve with time, experience and opportunity
provided, but we Nagas need to reason the traditional Naga values and Christian
virtues. If our conscience pricks and the Holy Spirit leads you to disengage,
we must do so without any fear or the interference of religiousinstitutions.
The worst thing about this year’s Hornbill is the decision
made by the government to lift the NLTP Act on liquor banatKisama village.
While Hornbill Festival has nothing to do with NLTP Act, the government has
legalised liquor sale to appease the demand of alcohol drinkers and sellers in
the pretext of being friendly to few drinking tourists.When the Church is
objecting to lifting the ban of alcohol and the opinion of the representatives
in the house (NLA) was even divided on this matter; it is appalling to see our
representatives having the audacity to go against the will of its voters. Have
our culture and way of life become so dulled and diluted that liquor should
become an incentive toattract andpromote our culture toindulge touristin
Nagaland? This half-baked immature mentality that led to the decision of the
government will surely go down in the history of Nagaland as an epitome of
hypocrisy.
Hornbill Festival is neither a liquor fest nor about eating
and drinking alone, it is more of a cultural celebration than culinary
exhibition. It is a disgracethe governmentlacks the political will and the
imagination to create space to promote local products but can only think of
lifting the ban of liquor. The government instead of providing an economic
roadmap for Nagaland hasbeen blaming and crying theloss of revenue in the state
because of NLTP Act. Listening to their argument, one is led to almost think
that the economic rot of Nagaland’s exchequer is because of NLTP Act. If this
is the bestexplanation the government can offer for our lack of economic
growth, we can’t help but wonder the state we have become.This act of cowardice
does surely have some implication to deter the failure of the government.
Hunter S. Thompson rightly said, “There is nothing in the world more helpless
and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge.”
Nagas are known for their hospitality.Several colonial
writers have endorsed that. Let us take this compliment with a stride. We must
continue to display our hospitality, especially during this festival, but our
hospitality does not end there. We could be displaying exquisite arts and
exotic Naga cuisines, way of life and Naga values, but our attitude towards the
tourist will simplify all these cultural exuberance.
While somepeople are trying to make some honest money on
such occasions, there are elements that we need to be on the watch out; the
widespread sale and consumption of liquor at Kisama and nearby highway inns,
the exploitation of Nagacraftsmanship, price gouging on local products,
promoting VIP culture and environment hazards as more tourists have made their
way to Hornbill. I personally have no objection on the celebration of Hornbill,
but more than merry making, the working hours in our offices are more demanding
than festivities and merry making.
