Nagaland or the ‘Land of the Nagas’ can be considered as the pride of the northeast. The North-Eastern states of India popularly known as the seven sisters, are literally Paradise on earth. The best part about visiting Nagaland is that the people are extremely warm and the atmosphere will engulf you into the true spirit of the Nagas. Apart from mouth-watering cuisine, the festivals of Nagaland have attracted people from the world over. A popular one among the festivals is the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. The Nagas consider nature to be extremely sacred and the same can be seen by way of the Hornbill Festival. As the name suggests, the bird Hornbill has been held in high regard in Nagaland in whose commemoration the week-long Hornbill festival is conducted. Here is a useful insight into what to expect from the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland which is literally the pride of the state.
What to expect?
Although the Hornbill Festival is a week-long celebration, sometimes the celebration extends up to 10 days. The flurry of the festival is seen during the first week of December and has become so popular over the years that tourists from all over the world visit Nagaland just to witness the festival. As it is widely known, northeastern states of India are well known for a multitude of tribes. You will be able to witness the tribal culture of Northeast when you visit Nagaland during the Hornbill Festival. There are roughly around 17 Naga tribes who come together in unison to celebrate the nature and culture that they hold so close to their heart.
The precise location of the Hornbill Festival is in the village of Kisama located about 10 kilometres away from the capital city of Kohima. The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is also regarded as the 'Festival of Festivals' and has been celebrated for a long time now in a bid to unify the seven sisters of the northeast. Ever since the early 2000s, the popularity of the festival has grown manifold which has helped Indian tribes realise their true potential. It is the first step towards unifying the culturally diverse states of North Eastern India.
Best Things to Do in the Hornbill Festival
Gorge on scrumptious Naga cuisine
The best part about visiting Nagaland is mouth-watering cuisine. The food that is served in the Hornbill Festival is a true testament of how marvellous the Naga cuisine is. Some of the must-try dishes include roasted millets, pork and beef pickles, rice cakes and rice beer. You should also lookout for some authentic wine tasting in Nagaland's Hornbill festival because there is a unique thrill associated with it.
Sip on some Naga wine
Winemaking as such is a forbidden activity in Nagaland. The vineyards which are located in close proximity to the venue of the Hornbill Festival are worth a try because it is probably the purest form of wine that you will ever taste. The Naga wine will surely give a tough competition to many other wine brands across the world. After all, any festival remains incomplete without tasting the literal authentic flavour of the state.
Embracing the naga culture
If you are a true travel enthusiast, experiencing the culture of a place will be on top of your priority list. The people involved are responsible for making the celebration a success. The same is the case with the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland. The diverse Naga tribes are extremely hospitable and if you show the same kind of warmth to them, they will surely embrace you into their culture. You might also get a chance to have a solemn meal in their traditional households. After all, any festival is about sharing and receiving. Look forward to redefining humanity again in the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland.
Shopping for Naga souvenirs
Visiting any place on a vacation demands you to take home authentic souvenirs to keep as memories. The Hornbill Festival sees many shops selling a wide range of handy souvenirs. There are handloom stalls, photo booths and painting centres which all take up the vibrance of the Hornbill Festival a notch higher. There are also many cultural performances which are put up by the tribes depicting their art form. Apart from this a number of food stalls and game stalls will surely keep you occupied during the Hornbill Festival and will leave you with an exhilarating feel at the end of the day.
You can visit Kohima in Nagaland only if you take a connecting train from Guwahati or Kolkata as Kohima does not have its own airport or central railway station. The spectacular journey along the North Eastern Hills and wilderness of the countryside will be a great start before you witness the Hornbill Festival. To help you plan the perfect vacation to Nagaland to witness the Hornbill Festival, you can rely on Pickyourtrail to help you with your bookings. Customise your own itinerary and look forward to a dream vacation to Nagaland. Start planning today and Happy travelling!
- Log in to post comments
