A two-day festival, 2nd edition of “Autumn Festival 2023”, a prelude to Hornbill Festival 2023, was celebrated on November 3-4 at Nagaland House, 29 Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, New Delhi. According to a DIPR report, chief guest of the inaugural programme, director general, ministry of tourism, government of India, Manisha Saxena said that the north eastern states, accounts for 8% of India’s total area, 4% of its population and almost 4% of its GDP, but in terms of experience it is 100% fun, sustainable and beautiful.
She said “Hornbill Festival” has carved a niche for itself as a brand and expressed hope that through the “Autumn Festival” the people in Delhi would be able to experience a little bit of the culinary, handloom and handicrafts of Nagaland. Saxena hoped that “Autumn Festival” would encourage people to be a part of the Hornbill Festival 2023 at Kisama, Nagaland.
The chief guest also inaugurated the exhibition stalls set up at the lawn, offering handmade crafts, textiles, cuisines indigenous to the State of Nagaland. Guests and visitors were also treated to an array of cultural extravaganza such as traditional dance, folk songs, traditional Naga wrestling, musical performance, and a fashion show by Designer, Vilhousa Movi.
Minister, Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along was also present at the event, where he unveiled the theme song of the festival. The “Autumn Festival” was organized by the department of Tourism, government of Nagaland in association with the Chief Resident Commissioner, Nagaland House, New Delhi and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.