Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, located at New Ministers’ Hill, Kohima, has announced its much-anticipated Flower Festival 2024, themed “Worship the Lord in Beauty” (1 Chronicles 16:29). The festival will take place from November 30 to December 8, 2024, coinciding with the 25th anniversary celebration of the Annual Hornbill Festival from December 1 to 10.
The Flower Festival aims to highlight the Cathedral’s significance as both a key tourist destination and an important Christian pilgrimage center in India. Recently declared by the Government of India as one of the country’s Christian pilgrimage sites, according to an update received here, the Flower Festival aims to promote pilgrimage and tourism, thereby enhancing the Cathedral’s visibility as a destination to pray and experience God’s healing touch and at the same time, foster and inculcate environmental stewardship.
The festival will feature a variety of activities, including floral exhibitions showcasing vibrant arrangements and varieties, horticultural learning sessions, guided tours providing cultural and spiritual insights into the Cathedral along with its aesthetics. Through this event, the organizers aim to also attract visitors, boost local tourism, and educate the community on sustainable gardening practices and the importance of preserving nature.
The inaugural program will take place on 30 November 2024, at 9:00 AM, in the Diocese of Kohima, Golden Jubilee Hall. The event will be graced by Salhoutuonuo Kruse, Minister of Women Resource Development and Horticulture, Government of Nagaland, as the Special Guest.
As part of the preparations, it was informed that the Cathedral will be closed for maintenance from 26 to 29 November 2024. Visitors and tourists have been requested to plan their visits accordingly.
The organizers have warmly invited the public and tourists to participate in the Flower Festival and celebrate the spiritual, cultural, and environmental significance of this event.