1 / 6Nagaland’s 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival concluded on Tuesday (December 10) resonating fusion of Naga folk songs and dances during the closing function. At the 10-day festival, held at the picturesque Naga Heritage Village Kisama, around 12 km from the state capital Kohima, Naga arts, music, and performances were showcased, drawing participants and visitors from across the globe. (Image: AP)
2 / 6The Hornbill Festival is an annual tourism promotional event of the Nagaland government, which brings together different tribes of the state at a single venue providing an opportunity for visitors to enjoy ethnic art and culture. Addressing the closing ceremony, Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along highlighted the spirit of unity and prosperity that the event represented for the people of Nagaland. (Image: AP Photo)
3 / 6Men dressed like warriors stabbed their spears in the air, reenacting a form of tribal warfare their ancestors used in battles. Many others, wearing tribal costumes, sang and danced, keeping alive customs that have passed down through generations. (Image: AP Photo)
4 / 6These were among the scenes at the 10-day Hornbill Festival in Kohima, the capital of India’s remote Nagaland state, which borders Myanmar. Nagaland, which was a frontier during World War II and where Allied troops fought against the Japanese, is home to Nagas, an Indigenous people who inhabit several northeastern Indian states. The festival, brought together a collection of traditional arts, cuisine and folklore, spotlighting the diverse Naga heritage. Nagaland’s famed headhunters also joined, and hundreds of tribal participants wore accessories that included necklaces made from animal tusks. (Image: AP Photo)
5 / 6Named after the Indian hornbill, the festival is Nagaland’s biggest tourist draw and seeks to showcase the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the state’s Indigenous tribes, each with its own distinct festivals and character. In the majority Hindu country, most Nagas are Christians. They are ethnically distinct from most of India. (Image: AP Photo)
6 / 6Most Naga villages are perched on mountaintops, originally built long ago to spot approaching enemies when the region was little more than a forest. In the 10-day festival, held at the picturesque Naga Heritage Village Kisama, some 12 km from the state capital Kohima, Naga arts, music, and performances were showcased, drawing participants and visitors from across the globe.
