The Annual 10 day Naga festival brings the 17 tribes of Nagaland together. A small village, Kisama which hosts the festival turns vibrant with Colours, folks songs, Tourists flocking around the village. It looks like you just landed into a Travel XP or Natgeo sets.
Nagaland Tourism arranges this festival to develop tourism and employment generation. Nagaland tourism has not changed the format for the last 16 years, and it need a serious revisit considering the global presence of this event. Irrespective of the format, Hornbill should still form part of your travel list. Its an experience which will surely wont want to give a miss.
The festival is held in Kisama, a heritage village known for its eco tourism. It is a 3 to 4 hours drive from Dimapur.
The festival begins at 10 a.m. and continues till 12 noon. Followed by post lunch session starting at 1.00 p.m. and continuing till 3.30 p.m. Various tribes perform one after another with lot of enthusiasm and vigour.
After two days you would notice that few of the performances get repeated as well. So keep your schedule at Hornbill for not more than 2 days. Get your photos clicked with the freindly Nagas, the entire impression of head hunters would vanish.
The performances end at 3.30 p.m. and by this time its already starting to darken
Visit 17 morungs of the 17 tribes all displaying their unique culture, habitat, food. Try their cuisines at the Morungs and don’t forget to enjoy their freshly brewed rice beer served in bamboo mugs.
Visit war memorial in the arena which you can visit after the festivities conclude.
For shopping lovers there’s world of Bamboo artifacts which you can shop. Do bargain well for better prices.
Late evening you can choose to spend time with the locals who stay in the arena and have a bon fire party. Local songs and rice beer no better way to spend you evening.
If you have got enough of the Morungs, you have an option to explore the night market also known as night carnival.
The Nagas are great music lovers especially hard rock. Go to Indira Gandhi stadium in Kohima (1.30 mns drive from Kisama) which hosts various evening events including a beat boxing championship.
Explore kohima in the morning where you don’t see so much of rush. Visit the war memorial built in memory of the World War II soldiers.
Visit the Museum and learn about their culture. You will relate to lot of tribes as you would have seen them performing at the arena.
During horn bill festival, other competitions are also hosted like wrestling competition in Naga style, stilt walking competition, chilli eating competition.
At the entrance you get a booklet from the office of Nagaland tourism for free which entails various events scheduled for 10 days along with timings. Though timings are not followed atleast you can plan your schedule for the day. While i was there there was world war peace rally with different countries participating in the rally with their Jeeps, costumes and army band playing.
This year the department also hosted a sponsored tour visit to the local village Khonoma and other nearby villages at a very cheap rate. If you have time, you can opt this facility and go around nearby village and interact with the localites. Else you can plan a trek to dzouko valley which is 40 mns drive from Kisama and worth a visit.
Two days at Hornbill festival went by so fast it was time for me to leave the crowded Kisama to find some peace in its villages.
Points to Note:
- You need Inner Line Permit to enter Nagaland. Ask your tour operator or car service provider to arrange for one. Foreign Tourist don’t need permission, as their hotel arrange intimation to the local police station. During the festival nobody checks the Inner Line Permit, but if caught you can land in trouble.
- Book your hotels and car in advance as last moment bookings can turn to be very costly atleast 5 times the cost.
- Pure vegeterians keep your food ration handy, as you might really find it difficult to get a pure vegetarian restaurant.
- Evenings the temperature can fall upto 8 to 10 degree. Keep good woolen clothes as high altitude and fall in temperature makes it difficult to stay outside.
- Nagaland is a dry state. You can enjoy local rice beer. Don’t try to sneak drinks in your car as they check the cars at various points.
- During the festival there is a good surveillance by the police. Don’t try to stay outdoors for long time.
Read more about other places of Nagaland visit – https://wordpress.com/post/leelatravelstories.wordpress.com/452
leelatravelstories 