Mokokchung, October 17 (MTNews): During a coordination meeting at the Directorate of Tourism on October 17 with the Tribal Hohos/ organizations, the upcoming hornbill festival was deliberated where H. Khehovi Advisor Tourism, Art and Culture said the state will hold the 23rd edition of Hornbill Festival 2022 from December 1.
Khehovi said that since this year’s Hornbill Festival will be the last before the State general election next year, he wants the celebration to be organized in an “impressive and grand manner unlike the previous years.” He, therefore, urged all the tribal leaders to extend their cooperation so that the festival is celebrated in the grandest manner.
Stating that the Hornbill Festival is the only festival where all Naga tribes come together and celebrate as one festival, he said the festival is well known to everyone across the globe and is now recognized as an international festival.
Stating that the Hornbill Festival is not a “political matter”, Khehovi said the festival is “our festival” and that it does not belong to a particular department or tribe. The advisor also asked all the tribal organizations to take ownership of the festival and help one another for progress and development.
He further said that the department will be meeting the leaders of Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization and discuss the organization’s non-participation from the festival and exuded hope that goodwill would prevail and they will join in the celebration.
He also requested the tribal organizations to start their preparations for the ensuing festival and informed that the department has allotted a site to the Tikhir tribe for construction of Morung.
Officials from the Tourism Department also said that the Ministry of External Affairs has informed that all the South Asian Countries will be participating in this year’s festival. The official also urged the tribal organization to come up with unique ideas such as a curative food menu with a story behind, display of special handicrafts, tourist guide attached to the respective Morungs and others.
During the meeting, representatives of the tribal hohos also shared their opinions on issues related to the management of the festival.