Potpourri of Opinions on Hornbill Celebration | Dr. Villo Naleo

Once again Hornbill celebration has become contentious amongst the Naga Christians. It is not a complex issue, but since it wrestles with culture and religion, modernity and tradition people have varied opinions. Hornbill Festival is the State’s initiative and we must endorse it, if it is helping the State to generate revenue, publicity, showcasing Naga culture and traditions. Let the government decide what they perceived may be for the best interest of the State. As Christians living in this world, we cannot always dichotomize secular and sacred. Christians are called to be witnesses in the world. If Christians are to shy away from social, political and cultural activities, we limit our influence of being the ‘salt and the light’ of this world.

Martin Luther had the same attitude. He wanted to get rid of his evil thoughts and sought spiritual fulfillment by joining a monastery. Only to find that all his previous thoughts followed him there. Though Nagaland’s population is almost 90% Christians, we do not envision a theocratic state. However, Christians must influence and push the government on the universal Christian principles of justice, equity and honesty for peaceful coexistence.

Hornbill is just a bird and there is no special worship or adoration that is given to this bird. The Hornbill is not even the State bird of Nagaland. But culturally, Hornbill has been highly respected and honored by our ancestors. Our forefathers did not even worship this bird as part of their religious rituals. Most commonly, people use its feathers as attire in the headgear. The sad part is that the bird is at the verge of extinction. There are some people who are objecting the participation of pastors praying for the Hornbill festival, for the fact that, non-Christians are called to invoke a misconstrued blessing prior to the celebration.

The objection mostly comes from the rationale that soon after the prayer all sorts of unacceptable practices such as drunkenness and other questionable behaviors are being practiced. We know that prayer is neither a magic spell nor a rubbing genie done with the intention to manipulate a higher power. We cannot limit our God to gender, religion and culture. God is much beyond these human constructed ideas and traditions. In fact God is even beyond our civilization and the universe. God is not only the God of Christians; He is also the God for all nations and tribes across the globe. To expect pastors to only pray for Christians and coercing them only to pray in Christian gatherings are rather signs of immaturity in faith.

I would suggest that Pastor/Father/priest would pray to awaken the conscience of the people; to pray for courage and stand for the truth, the will to wade against injustice and violence, to voice against any kind of exploitation. Christians must keep themselves away from things that will destroy their testimony. At the end of the day, it is the individual who makes the choice.

On morality, it is not just during hornbill time that people fall prey to immorality. Human lustful desire has been part of human history ever since the fall of Adam and Eve. One thing we must know ourselves is that our exposure to modernity is quite young. We have not yet arrived to the full sense of modernity. We all evolve with time, experience and opportunity provided, but we Nagas need to reason the traditional Naga values and Christian virtues. If our conscience pricks and the Holy Spirit lead you to disengage, we must do so without any fear or the interference of religious institutions.

The worst thing about this year’s hornbill is the decision made by the government to lift the NLTP Act on liquor ban in Kisama village. While Hornbill Festival has nothing to do with NLTP Act, the government has legalized liquor sale to appease the demand of alcohol drinkers and sellers in the pretext of being friendly to few drinking tourist. When the Church is objecting to lifting the ban of alcohol and the opinion of the representatives in the house (NLA) was even divided on this matter; it is appalling to see our representatives having the audacity to go against the will of its voters. Have our culture and way of life become so dulled and diluted that liquor should become an incentive to attract and promote our culture to indulge tourist in Nagaland? This half-baked immature mentality that led to the decision of the government will surely go down in the history of Nagaland as an epitome of hypocrisy.

Hornbill festival is neither a liquor fest nor about eating and drinking alone, it is more of a cultural celebration than culinary exhibition. It is a disgrace the government lacks the political will and the imagination to create space to promote local products but can only think of lifting the ban of liquor. The government instead of providing an economic roadmap for Nagaland has been blaming and crying the loss of revenue in the state because of NLTP Act. Listening to their argument one is led to almost think that the economic rot of Nagaland’s exchequer is because of NLTP Act. If this is the best explanation the government can offer for our lack of economic growth, we can’t help but wonder the state we have become. This act of cowardice does surely have some implication to deter the failure of the government. Hunter S. Thompson rightly said, “There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge.”

Nagas are known for their hospitality. Several colonial writers have endorsed that. Let us take this compliment with a stride. We must continue to display our hospitality, especially during this festival, but our hospitality does not end there. We could be displaying exquisite arts and exotic Naga cuisines, way of life and Naga values, but our attitude towards the tourist will simplify all these cultural exuberance.

While some people are trying to make some honest money on such occasions, there are elements that we need to be on the watch out; the widespread sale and consumption of liquor at Kisama and nearby highway inns, the exploitation of Naga craftsmanship, price gouging on local products, promoting VIP culture and environment hazards as more tourists have made their way to Hornbill. I personally have no objection on the celebration of Hornbill, but more than merry making the working hours in our offices are more demanding than festivities and merry making.

Dr. Villo Naleo