Hornbill festival-The annual Hornbill festival of Nagaland and one of the favorite tourist destination of the North eastern region got off to a colourful start on Thursday evening amid the beating of the Naga traditional gong by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at Kisama village in Nagaland located about 12 km from Kohima .
Although the 23rd edition of the annual Hornbill Festival kicked off with great enthusiasm and Hornbill festival is specially known for its vibrant culture and traditional display of multiple tribes but this year seems to be exclusively different because at least seven tribes under Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) are boycotting the mega event in support of their demand for a separate state.
Amid the festive atmosphere at the Hornbill Festival , there still prevails a deserted look in the morungs belonging to the Eastern Naga tribes in the absence of the tribes .
As per reports the Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO), the apex body leading the movement for a separate state, has asked the seven tribes not to participate and boycott the Hornbill Festival even as Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to meet them in New Delhi on Saturday.
According to the claims of the organisations the eastern Nagaland districts had been facing negligence in terms of development and that only a separate state could bring about proper development.
The seven tribes which remain absent in the participation are namely, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung.
According to further reports the Nagaland cabinet on Monday appealed to the ENPO and the tribal Hohos (organisations representing the tribes) to withdraw their boycott call as the world famous festival of the festivals , the Hornbill festival has become a symbol of the culture of all 16 tribes of Nagaland and has become part of the brand Nagaland for the outside world.
The tribes residing across six districts in Nagaland, namely Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang, have been demanding a separate state, Frontier Nagaland.
The 10-day-long festival began on the day Nagaland celebrated its 60th Statehood Day on Thursday. Nagaland Chief Minister , Neiphiu Rio termed it as a historic moment as the 23rd edition of the Hornbill festival coincides with the 60th statehood day.
Taking to twitter he wrote, “Let us be united, put the interest of the State and people above everything else, and continue with utmost dedication for the betterment of the State and ensure that the fruits of development reach the last person in the line.”
