Hornbill Festival 2024

What is the Hornbill Festival?/ What makes the Hornbill Festival so important?

The Hornbill Festival is one of the largest celebrations of the indigenous warrior tribes of Nagaland. Naga people have a rich tradition of maintaining their unique heritage and customs. For this reason, travelers book Nagaland tour packages to attend Hornbill Festival 2024. You can also customize the Nagaland tour with us and visit to experience the uniqueness of this tribe and spend some time with the locals.

Each of the tribes and sub-tribes in the state have their own ways of promoting their culture. In addition to their traditional ceremonial attire which is different for each tribe, there are multi-colored spears, Dao’s with dyed goat’s hair. The exotic headgears and ivory armlets are other famous traditional things of Nagas which steal the show. In earlier times, the fighters had to prove their bravery, to wear these.

In spite of the tremendous modernity entering into their lives, the people have preserved their customs and legacy. The state is called the ‘Land of Festivals’ and people dwelling here have a fondness of celebrating the deeds of their ancient warriors and folk heroes.

Moreover, the medleys that immortalize love stories, folk tunes, and gospel songs are also cherished. The festival is named after Hornbill, one of the most respected bird species in the state. Interestingly, the importance of the bird is reflected in several tribal cultural expressions, songs, and dances.

Why is Hornbill Festival Celebrated in Nagaland?

Hornbill is the name of a bird that has been depicted and respected by the Nagas for ages. The folklore and songs sung during the entire Hornbill Festival Nagaland depict the importance of this bird.

The feathers of the bird were used to decorate the headgears of the people and warriors of Nagas. Initially, the government tried to persuade people not to hunt these birds and rather preserve them, but all of it went in vain. Due to extensive hunting, this species of bird reached the brink of extinction and that became an eye-opener for Nagas.

In the year 2000, Hornbill Festival in Nagaland was celebrated for the first time and it included folk songs and dance, traditional games, and some songs from their wars. And today, it’s a grand affair where people from around the world come to become a part of it.

Where is the Hornbill festival held?/ In which state of India is the Hornbill Festival celebrated?

The venue of the Hornbill Festival is around 5 km from Kohima on the festival grounds of the organizers – Kisama Heritage Village, a small village of Nagas. Moreover, this is a guarded area, and those who wish to enter have to buy their tickets. The events usually start at 9:30 am every day.

Hornbill Festival Dates 2024

Hornbill Festival is celebrated annually during the first week of December, i.e. from 1st December to 10th December.

Where is the Hornbill Festival held?

The Hornbill Festival is held at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, located around 12 km from the capital of Nagaland, Kohima. It begins at 9 am every day. You can reach the venue by booking a taxi. Purchase the tickets at the entry gate and pass through the security check. However, make sure you have a valid pass to park the vehicle at the site.

How is the Hornbill festival celebrated?/ What are the main events of the Hornbill Festival?

Hornbill Festival Nagaland, also known locally as the ‘Festival of Festivals’, is organized by the State Tourism and Arts and Culture Department, Government of Nagaland. The fiesta is celebrated to encourage inter-tribal harmony and promote colorful local culture and traditions. The visual retreat further displays the unique customs, rituals, and practices as well as preserving the heritage. Tourists are warmly welcomed and are treated well. The celebrations are attended by all the major tribes of Nagaland who present themselves with various arts, folk songs, dances, and games. There are numerous displays of handicrafts, handlooms, multi-cuisines, and local food stalls. While a rich amount of rice beer is always at hand to indulge in.

Evenings are lit by the thrilling Hornbill National Rock Concert in which bands from all over the country and abroad participate to compete. This is followed by the amazing Night Market in the town. But the most attractive event at the festival is the Naga chili eating competition. Additionally, the pork eating festival which draws a lot of crowd evokes much fanfare and excitement.

Top Things to Do at Hornbill Festival

• Learn about traditional arts, folk songs & games.
• Know more about tribal life exploring replicas of tribal huts, wooden carvings and drum instruments beats at the end of the day.
• Gorge on delicious foods at the food stalls along with rice beer.
• Participate in Naga Chili eating competition, recognized as the hottest event festival.
• You should not miss visiting Morungs as these are the best things about this festival. The best time to visit Morungs is during the morning because that’s the time when performers start getting dressed. You can get some close clicks with them but only after you take their permission.
• This festival is organized by Nagas but 16 different tribes become a part of this extravagant affair. So, have a conversation with different tribes, it is a great experience- one that you will not forget throughout your life.
• Enjoy the varied cultural performances throughout the day and become a part of the event.
• Don’t miss out on the local rice beer

Tips for Travelers visiting the Hornbill Festival

The following travel tips will be handy if you are planning to attend the Hornbill Festival. Another key point to note is that the festival begins from December 1, which is also celebrated as the Nagaland Formation Day.

• The festival is one of the top tourist attractions thus, draws a lot of tourists from in and around the Nagaland State. So, make sure to have your bookings well in advance to avoid any last minute hassles and inconvenience.
• There is an option of bargaining at various stalls and souvenir shops. So tourists can exercise this option to get the best deals.
•  Foreigners are no longer required to possess the Entry Permit to visit Nagaland. However, they must register themselves with the Foreigner’s Registration Office (District Superintendent of Police) within 24 hours of their entry into the state.
• There is a very helpful Information Center located near the festival site. You can have the brochure which lists the festival events and other attractions in Nagaland from here.

How to reach Kohima, Nagaland

Nagaland neither has an airport nor a railway station. This is how you can reach Kohima if you are planning your trip.

By Road: NH39 is an interlink connecting Kohima to Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur. The state highways co-joins from Guwahati to Shillong where other states are accessed. Personal cabs and buses are available to reach Kohima.

by Train: Kohima does not have a railway station of its own because of its hilly terrain. The closest rail link is in Dimapur, connected to the important towns of Guwahati and Kolkata. Although traveling by train can be a slow affair, it nevertheless is the best way to reach Kohima. Not only is it the cheapest but it leads through some of the most scenic views of the amazing mountain valleys and hills.

By Flight: Kohima does not have an airport and the nearest airport is in Dimapur, at a distance of 74 km. Dimapur operates only domestic flights and is connected to Kolkata and Guwahati from where you can get direct flights. International travelers will first have to get off at either Kolkata or Delhi international airports and then catch a connecting flight to Dimapur. From Dimapur, it’s a two-hour cab ride to Kohima for which many taxi operators run to and fro which can be hired. However, the option of a 30-minute helicopter ride from the airport is also available in case you are in a hurry.

And don’t forget, you’ll need Inner Line Permit to enter and visit most of the places in Nagaland.

How to get the Inner Line Permit for Nagaland?

Ans. For all the visitors who are not an inhabitant of Nagaland have to get the Inner Line Permit to visit Nagaland. Visitors can get this permit from the Office of Deputy Resident Commissioner in Guwahati, Shillong, Delhi, and Kolkata.

Or else you can also get an “on-arrival” ILP from the DC office of Dimapur. It is better to apply for this permit early in the morning so that it gets done by noon. Once you get the permit, you will be able to enter and visit Kohima.

Where to stay in Nagaland if you are attending Hornbill Festival?

Ans: Partake in the Hornbill Festival in Kohima while enjoying the comforts of some of the best hotels and luxury camps. There are multiple luxurious hotels like Hotel Japfu, Hotel Vivor, Hotel Kohima and Razhu Pru.