Kaleidoscope of Cultures at the Hornbill Festival 2007 in Nagaland
Every year in early December, Nagaland celebrates itself at the “Hornbill Festival” in Kohima. All the major ethnic groups of the state are participating in the party, dressed in their colourful customs, and proudly offering their food and explaining their culture and lifestyle.
Our friend Renate from Germany has send some pictures, which she took during our visit to this remarkable event.
Highlight of our visit in Nagaland is the week-long Hornbill Festival, which since 7 years is is held in Kohima in the first week of December.
In the big Naga Cultural Village outside the city each Naga-Tribe has erected a house in traditional style, made of bamboo and palmtree leaves.
In some, wonderful blankets and bamboo works are sold, in others, traditional food delicies. Each house has its own spirit, but everywhere we have a friendly welcome – as tourists even here rarely show up.
Instead thousands of Nagas have assembled on the festival ground, watching the dancers in their traditional customs.
They obviously enjoy assembling with the members of their own clan, feasting themselves with the national dish, fat pork meat with sour bamboo on hill rice, and flushing it with reasonable amount of rice beer.
Thank you for the nice illustration, Renate.
All pictures: ©Renate Loose
