Nagaland:Hornbill festival to be celebrated virtually

Nagaland government has decided to celebrate its popular Hornbill festival virtually this year, amid the surge in COVID cases across the country. In a statement issued  the department of tourism said the annual festival would be observed over “audio visual media channels and social media platforms” this time, and people can enjoy the tribal dance performances sitting at home. The content for the online programme will be sourced from government archives, it said.

Hornbill Festival, held from December 1 to 10, showcases the culture, heritage, food and customs of Naga tribes at Kisama village. Sixteen tribal communities come together to celebrate their traditions with colourful dance performances. Political parties, including the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Congress, as well as various civil society organisations had urged the state government to cancel this year’s Hornbill Festival. More than two lakh tourists from across the globe attend the 10-day gala every year. Nagaland has reported 9,455 COVID-19 cases so far, of which 48 have died.