Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Hornbill Festival 2018 in Kohima

Home Minister said Hornbill Festival offers a 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”.

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the hugely popular Hornbill Festival 2018 in Kohima today, coinciding with the Formation Day of Nagaland. Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister said that the annual Hornbill Festival is a spectacular event showcasing the rich ancient culture and civilization of the people of Nagaland. It powerfully demonstrates the cultural diversity and civilizational unity of the people.  “How each tribe is proudly unique, their cultural richness and yet there is an overwhelming sense of unity among all.  This spectacular demonstration of unity in diversity in what India is all about. At the Hornbill Festival I get a glimpse of the Indian spirit of happy peaceful coexistence of the multiplicities,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh mentioned his visit to the Hornbill Festival last year and said he was so overwhelmed with the celebration that he felt compelled to attend this festival again this year also. Expressing his gratitude to the Government of Nagaland for expanding similar festivals to other parts of the State where mini-Hornbill Festivals are celebrated from time to time, Shri Rajnath Singh said it will vastly enhance the popular participation in it and enlarge the arc of happiness. Home Minister thanked the State Government for initiating such events in other parts of India including the national capital. “That will help the countrymen to understand the cultural richness of the Nagas. Folk songs and dances are essential ingredients of the traditional Naga culture. Tradition is kept alive through songs and folk tales and very often romantic and historical themes are sung and stories of famous ancestors told.  Seasonal songs, which describe various activities done in a particular agricultural season and war dances are also an intrinsic art form in Nagaland,” he said.

Home Minister said Hornbill Festival offers a 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.

“You all will be happy to learn that NEC is building a North Eastern Cultural and Information Centre in Delhi. The proposed centre would showcase rich history, culture, heritage and cuisine of the eight States in the North East.  It will also establish facilities for promotion of tourism, a Common Facility Centre, Library, Knowledge and Resource Centre in the National Capital.  This Centre would facilitate dissemination of knowledge about the rich cultural heritage of the North East,” said Shri Rajnath Singh.

(With inputs from PIB)