The third day of the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, saw a diverse array of cultural performances and traditional folk songs and dances from various Naga tribes. According to the Directorate of Tourism, the festival has so far attracted 57,585 tourists across the first three days.
Tourism statistics for Day 3 include 317 foreign tourists, 4,041 domestic tourists, and 11,729 locals, bringing the total number of visitors to 16,087 for the day.
The morning session featured Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, Home and Border Affairs Minister, Advisor KT Sukhalu, and Chairman of the Nagaland Honey Mission, Obed Quinker. Distinguished guests included Tshering Thendup Bhutia, Minister of Tourism for Sikkim, Tenzing Dorjee Bhutia, Chairman of SIMFED, Ambassador of Peru to India, Javier Paulinich, and cultural representatives from the Austrian Embassy, including Michael Pal and Irena Pal.
A variety of performances captivated the audience, starting with the Ao cultural troupe performing the festive “Youth Dance.” The Chang cultural troupe impressed with their folk song “Chonglichia,” traditionally sung while cutting and pulling the Banyan tree.
Other performances included the Chakhesang Cultural Troupe’s celebration of life with a commemorative dance, and the Khiamniungan Cultural Troupe’s “Noklie,” depicting inter-village rivalry.
The Garo, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Sangtam, and Angami cultural troupes each showcased traditional dances and songs that reflect the heritage and values of their respective tribes. The Kachari cultural troupe presented the folk dance “Bai Bin,” performed during the Bishu festival, while the Yimkhiung cultural troupe’s “Thunyo Khun” captured the festive spirit with traditional brews and merrymaking. The Zeliang cultural troupe concluded the morning session with a mass dance “Chariu Taubo,” bringing both young and old together in a spirited celebration.
In the afternoon session, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, graced the event as the chief guest, with Minister of Women Resource Development, Salhoutuonuo Kruse, hosting the function. The Yimkhiung cultural troupe performed a special folk song and dance marking the 25th Silver Jubilee of the Hornbill Festival.
The Kachari cultural troupe presented the “Baidima” dance, symbolizing joy and harmony, while the Japanese drumming ensemble Drum Tao performed a grand fusion of music, martial arts, dance, and storytelling. The Konyak cultural troupe captivated the crowd with the romantic “Maipong Lokpu,” and the Tikhir cultural troupe’s song “Sangso” honored the Hornbill Festival’s 25th edition.
Other remarkable performances included the Sumi cultural troupe’s “Sholuba Kiche,” a pre-war and hunting ritual, and the Sangtam cultural troupe’s “Lutang Khidong,” a song sung during jhum cultivation. The Phom and Khiamniungan troupes presented traditional songs of rice pounding and babysitting, respectively, while the Lotha cultural troupe honored the strength of their ancestors with the “Eramoren Khyo Khung Rukhung” victory stone-pulling dance.