- The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the hugely popular Hornbill Festival 2018 in Kohima on December 1, coinciding with the Formation Day of Nagaland.
- Home Minister said Hornbill Festival offers unique opportunity not only to the different tribes of the State to interact with each other and exhibit their cultural heritage but also with those from the neighbouring and other States in the true spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat”. Given the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland, Government of India has established the North Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre at Dimapur, Nagaland. The North Eastern Council (NEC) has also funded the infrastructure for the Margaret Shikshak School of Music at Patkai Christian College, Dimapur.
- Expressing his happiness that Nagaland State is going to get its first Medical College under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Home Minister said Rs. 300 crores has been sanctioned for this purpose. NEC has also funded setting up of a North East Regional Multi Disciplinary Paramedical Institute, Dimapur at a cost of about Rs. 50 crores. Besides, over the years Government of India has executed a large number of other projects in Nagaland leading to the path of faster and all-round development of the state.
Hornbill Festival
- The annual Hornbill Festival is held for ten days, 1st – 10th December. It is being held since 2000 and starts on December 1, which is Nagaland statehood Day.
- Nagaland Hornbill Festival so named in collective reverence to the bird enshrined in the cultural ethos of the Nagas to espouse the spirit of unity in diversity.
- It draws all the tribes and sub-tribes of Nagaland to the foothills below the lofty spurs of towering Mount Japfü wherin lies Naga Heritage Village, Kisama – the venue of the Festival.
- It plays host to a weeklong medly of cultural performances, indigenous games, craft bazaar, music events, fashion, cycling, motor sporting, events, a kids carnival, floral galleria, food courts, film festival and a series of competitions in various activities.
