• UGI USER
  • Dec 02, 2023
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HORNBILL FESTIVAL

Held annually in Nagaland, the 24th Hornbill Festival is set to unite 16 Naga tribes for a vibrant 10-day celebration of culture, music, and dance.

Source: The Hindu

About Hornbill Festival:

  • Named after the hornbill, a culturally significant bird symbolizing fidelity, beauty, and grace in Naga folklore.
  • Showcases the rich cultural heritage of the State.
  • Venue :Takes place at the heritage village of Kisama, 12km from the capital, Kohima.
  • Commences on Nagaland

Statehood Day, December 1, and spans 10 days.

  • Festival Highlights:
    • Exhibition of crafts and handloom products.
    • Food festival featuring Naga cuisine.
    • Wrestling championship,
    • solo and group dance competition, and
    • A vlogging contest.
  • Land of Festivals:Nagaland is renowned for its festivals, with the Hornbill Festival considered the “festival of festivals.”

A cultural extravaganza attracting diverse audiences locally and globally.

About Great Hornbill:

  • Belongs to the larger hornbill family.
  • Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
  • Conservation Status:
    • Initially classified as “Near Threatened.”
    • Currently designated as “Vulnerable”
  • Threat due to habitat loss, deforestation, and substantial hunting.
    • Ecological Significance:
      • Vital indicators of forest health.
      • Acknowledged as “farmers of the forest” for their role in seed dispersal.
    • State Bird Status:
      • Holds the status of the state bird in Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh.
      • Not designated as the state bird in Nagaland, despite the Hornbill Festival celebration.
    • CITES Classification:
      • Listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
    • Threats to Great Hornbill:Faces threats such as logging, forest clearance for agriculture, and susceptibility to hunting pressure.