Day-7 of the 25th edition of Hornbill Festival at Kisama showcased the diverse and rich cultural heritage of North East India.
The morning session, hosted by T. N. Manen, Advisor for Law & Justice and Land Revenue, along with chairman Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation (NSMDC) Kuputo Shohe, featured an impressive lineup of dignitaries.
These included Chief Justice of the Guahati High Court, Justice Vijay Bishnoi; advocate general Nagaland K. N. Balgopal; Managing Director of TRIFED Ashish Chatterjee; Consul General of the Royal Bhutanese Consulate General, Guwahati, Jigme Namgyal; special chief secretary of Manipur, H. Khan; and chief general manager of SBI (NE), S. Radhakrishnan.
Guahati High Court judges, Justices M Chowdhury and Devashis Baruah were also present.
The Rongmei community led the cultural presentations with their mesmerizing Rangdai Lam dance, an enchanting tribute to the Hornbill. This was followed by vibrant performances from the North East Zone Cultural Centre, showcasing the cultural richness of seven states.
The Lushai community from Mizoram presented the Cheraw dance, a traditional dance that involves men rhythmically tapping long bamboo staves while women in colorful traditional attire gracefully step between them. From Sikkim, the Bhutia community performed Singhi Chham dance, where dancers wore lion costumes to represent the snow lion, an important cultural symbol.
The Chakma community from Tripura captivated the audience with the Bizu dance, characterized by fluid, circular movements that reflect their traditional harvest celebrations.
The Assamese community brought the energy of the Bihu dance, one of the most vibrant and celebrated dances in India. Manipur’s Meitei community performed the Lai-Haraoba dance, a reflection of the region’s pre-Vaishnavite culture, with dancers enacting mythological stories and rituals in a spiritually immersive display.
The Adi community from Arunachal Pradesh performed the Taapu war dance, a powerful representation of their warrior heritage and communal strength.
Meanwhile, Garos of Meghalaya showcased the Wangala dance, celebrating the harvest season with synchronized movements and rhythmic beats.
The afternoon session, hosted by minister for Women Resources and Horticulture Salhoutuonuo Kruse and advisor for Industries & Commerce Hekani Jakhalu Kense, was graced by Air Marshal Surat Singh, Air Officer Commanding– in– Chief of Eastern Command.
The Sikkim cultural troupe performed the Dambrow Zow dance, Mizo troupe presented the Sarlamkai dance. The Adi community from Arunachal Pradesh presented the Etor Festival dance, Chakma community from Tripura performed the Jhum dance.
Manipur’s troupe again showcased the Lai-Haraoba dance, Khasi community performed the Harvest Dance or Nongshoh Kba, the Assamese troupe performed the rendition of the Bihu dance.
The event ended with a joint group dance by various cultural troupes from the Northeast, symbolizing unity and harmony among the diverse communities of the region.