State government has earmarked Rs.5 crore for this year’s Honbill Festival, said adviser Tourism and Art & Culture H. Khehovi Yepthomi on Monday.
Disclosing this at a press conference for the upcoming Hornbill Festival at the Conference Hall Tourism Department here Monday, Yepthomi maintained that the Hornbill Festival was not for revenue generation, saying that the benefit went to the people. Hectic preparation for 10-day annual Hornbill Festival is in full swing with the inaugural function programme scheduled to be held on December 1 at 3:30pm at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
Yepthomi informed the traditional blessings for the Hornbill Festival would be done by village chief Shikuto Zalipu and 10-day festival would witness cultural dances, indigenous foods items, handicrafts, music festival, traditional games, night cardinal and others.
Secretary art and culture Ahola Ao informed that various cultural dances by 17 tribes of Nagaland with 35 members from each cultural troupe totalling to more than 600 artistes would be displayed from day 1-10. She also informed that 17 cultural items would be performed in two shifts daily morning from 10am to 12 noon and from 1pm till 2.30pm.
She also said that there will be two artists corners set up at Kohima and Dimapur, which will be giving workshops, demonstrations, sales and painting competitions with cash prizes for winners.
This year, the Hornbill Festival will also feature boating, hiking, trekking and angling. She said that Kisama will be a no plastic zone and will not have any cold drink stalls or pan shops.
Additional director (HoD) Tourism Akhale V Khamo also highlighted the new evening events to be held at Kisama main arena like choral fest by symphony production, an evening with Naga female artist (music) at Kisama, Oldies night, Mahila band and Naga territorial regiment, Christmas concert and others. She also informed about ROAN entertainment – Korean cultural team on day five from 12:30 noon to 1:30pm at Kisama main arena.
Tourism deputy director Dr. N. Doulo informed that there would be night carnival at two places one by Kohima chamber of commerce and industry (KCCI) at Phoolbari to Razhü junction and another at Kohima BOC junction organized by T. Khel youth organization.