Hornbill Intl Public Art Festival
Minister for Higher & Technical Education and Urban Development Minister Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Thursday appealed to the upcoming artists of the state to bring more innovative ideas in their paintings so as to expose the rich culture and tradition of the Nagas.
Dr. Shurhozelie was inaugurating the Hornbill International Public Art Festival 2011, the first of its kind at the Naga Heritage Village Kisama. Arts and paintings are very nascent in the state he said and thanked Lalit Kala Akademi and other Arts organization for promoting Arts in the state.
Arts itself speaks about the tradition and culture of the surrounding of the artist, he said while appreciating the organizers of the Hornbill International Art Festival 2011, which he termed as a big step to carry forward in a broader way of Nagaland arts and to inspire the younger generation to create novel things in their paintings.
Pwuk plays the perfect hornbill festival host
Making the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland 2011, more meaningful the Phekmi Welfare Union Kohima played the perfect host, by serving variety of Naga ethnic delicacies free of costs to the visitors who thronged the Chakesang Morung on day 1 of the Hornbill festival held at the Naga Heritage Complex Kisama.
The Governor of Nagaland of Nagaland, Nikhil Kumar and the Chief Minister along with his colleagues were also seen enjoying the Naga food prepared and offered by the members of the Union, the menu which included local frog, snail, larvae (kelhu) crab, pork intestines, local chicken, Tizy fish, kholar and many more mouth watering items.
An excited member of the union informed this reporter from DIPR that the Governor thoroughly enjoyed the crab and even went for a second helping of the crab.
Countless number of tourists (both foreign and domestic) thronged the Chakesang Morung and was seen enjoying the Naga dishes. A tourist from Israel said that at first he was a little apprehensive and needed courage to taste the Naga food particularly the worms (kelhu) “After tasting it I found it so tasty and had about 20 of them,” he said with excitement.
Another group of tourist commented that they have taken food items of the Nagas which they have never seen in their life and found it very delicious.
Similarly, tourists from Singapore , Thailand and the United States were seen enjoying the snails and were enquiring to depth about the recipe from the union members. Local brew made of sticky rice and millet was also offered to the visitors in bamboo mugs much to the delight of the visitors.
The Phekmi Welfare Union Kohima has exhibited the hospitality of the Nagas in its truest sense besides promoting and popularizing the ethnic Naga delicacies.
President of Phekmi Welfare Union Kohima, Salie Khesoh said that the Hornbill festival is not just to eat, make merry and go back but to preserve and promote our indigenous food, drink and handicrafts. He further said that it was an honour and encouragement to them that the Governor and Chief Minister of Nagaland also came and join them for lunch.
Phekmi Welfare Union Kohima was formed in the year 2002 comprising of 300 members.
They have spent an amount of approximately `1.50 lac with the collective effort of all the members and with their kind gesture they have made the Nagas proud and have created a lasting impression on the minds of the visitors.
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