The most colorful and vibrant cultural festival celebrated in North East India is without a doubt, the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland. You must travel to Nagaland and experience it at least once!
Nagaland is one of the seven states in North East India popularly called the Seven Sisters. All of these states are adjacent to one or more countries and have an international border. Until about a few decades ago, this part of India wasn't as popular amongst travelers (across the globe!) as it is, as of today. It was wrongfully considered to be out of touch with the modern world and its independent cultures, rather mysterious.
The various cultural festivals celebrated in the North East have been a large benefactor for the states. Primarily the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, the Ziro Festival of Music in Arunachal Pradesh and the Bihu Festival in Assam have captivated everyone. During these festivals, the atmosphere is gripping. Coincidentally, I experienced this overwhelming ambiance when I visited Nagaland during the last 2 days of the Hornbill Festival. Here’s why I suggest everyone visit Nagaland at least once, during the festival.
1. Utopia for meat lovers.
Ever desired to taste beef or
pork in India but couldn’t due to the stringent rules about these meats?! Well,
you can have it at the venue for the Hornbill festival, Kisama Heritage Village
without being judged. It can actually be called a meat/food festival as various
booths offer the same meat, seasoning, and sides but the taste is completely
different at each. The actual secret is in the way they cook the meat and
whether they add the seasoning and spices before or after. All of the
preparations come with a side of boiled rice and bamboo shoot. In fact, bamboo
shoot is the most common seasoning used in many North Eastern states. Locally
brewed rice beer called Zutho and a portion of pork stew to chase it down seem
like a great combo! I would recommend it to everyone. Every foodie will
certainly have a blast at the Hornbill Festival.
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| Hornbill Festival Food: Bamboo Shoot, Pork Stew and Sticky Rice. |
2. Tribal heritages and
cultures come to life.
Nagaland is the home to 16
officially recognized tribes; a number significantly higher than anywhere in
the country. But what astonishes me, even more, is that each tribe has its own
way of life. A large similarity surely exists but their core values,
lifestyles, customs, and traditions are different and quite cautiously hidden
from the rest of the world. Untainted by the filth that is filling the world,
these tribes meet during the annual Hornbill Festival and proudly display their
cultures through various performances. Watching them fill the arena with colors
of their traditions will definitely leave you searching for words to describe that
experience.
The growth of North East India Tourism
The various north east India
tourism boards have implemented their best strategies to draw tourists to these
wonderful destinations nestled in the bosom of nature. Even world travelers and
explorers Dave and Deb from “theplanetD” urge you to visit North East India
in one of their articles. An enthusiastic & avid traveler Tanya Khanijow
has shared her wonderful experiences exploring Nagaland on her YouTube channel.
People from India plan their
travels to places in other countries because they consider them to be “exotic”
destinations. I feel sad at this fact because these people miss out on the
exotic places like Dzukou Valley in Nagaland, Dawki & Nongriat in Meghalaya
and Majuli Island in Assam to name a few that are even more beautiful than
foreign lands.
3. The epitome of fun and
frolic.
The overall atmosphere in Kohima during
the festival is filled with enthusiasm. Each person you meet is emphatic,
friendly and ready to help you out without hesitation. I needed help finding a
place to crash and get something to eat as it was almost quarter to one at
night. A group of youngsters celebrating the festival helped me get a place to
stay and decent food so I didn’t have to starve until the morning. Even though
it was pretty late, the streets were filled with people returning home from the
festival venue, partying and enjoying themselves. Bikers, backpackers, trekkers
and campers crowd Kohima and near-by towns just to experience this ambiance.
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| Camp with strangers who become friends overnight during the festival |
Amazing musicians from all over
the country perform at the festival. Great bands play their music alongside the
tribal people who perform their traditional dance & music acts leaving you
transfixed. One thing I hate is the presumptuous stereotypes people have in
mind when it comes to north east India; like the people here only listen to &
understand tribal languages & music or they live a “backwards” life
disconnected from the world and more nonsense along these lines. The reality is,
the music choice, fashion statement, world view, understanding of crucial matters,
education and lifestyle (basically everything) of the people of north eastern
states is at par if not much better than that of people living in metro cities
like Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata.
4. New companions to
accompany you.
All the people you meet at the
festival, at your homestay or your campsite instantly bond with you. I spent
just a couple hours with them chatting about my travel experiences and they
were ready to show me around. Some were from neighboring states and insisted me
to visit certain places of immaculate beauty before I headed back home. A trek
to the Dzuleke village and Dzukou valley is a must-try when in Nagaland, but
the dense forests and disappearing trails make navigation difficult. The
experienced and happy-go-lucky companions you just made will happily join you
on your adventure. If not, they will surely connect you with their experienced
trekker friends who can help you out.
Read a detailed blog I wrote about my solo trip to the Hornbill Festival and what all it entails for 'budget wayfarers' travel company.
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| HORNBILL FESTIVAL FACTOIDS |
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