Nagaland Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along on Wednesday announced “Ticket to Hornbill”, a prelude to the popular Hornbill Festival that is held in December every year.
The two-day showcase will be held on October 16 and 17 at the Talkatora Stadium here.
“We always tell people to come to Nagaland; this time, Nagaland is coming to Delhi. We are bringing our traditions and heritage to the national capital. It will be a grand programme that will showcase the thoughts and ideologies of the Naga people,” Along said at a press conference here.
Ticket to Hornbill, organised by Tourism Nagaland and the Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA), will be followed by a nationwide band competition offering prizes worth Rs 25 lakh.
Considered a prelude to the Hornbill Festival, the event will introduce audiences to the music, heritage and artistic character of Nagaland ahead of the annual celebration in December.
“Ticket to Hornbill gives audiences in Delhi a direct introduction to Nagaland’s cultural energy and offers a compelling reason to experience the Hornbill Festival in December. We see this initiative strengthening tourism interest, cultural exchange and public engagement with the communities and creative traditions that define our state,” the minister said.
The opening programme, which is slated to be attended by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, will feature cultural performances, live music and artistic presentations from the state.
Abu Metha, advisor to the Nagaland chief minister and chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland, said that the upcoming event shows how “focused public initiatives can support creative ambition while generating new economic opportunities.”
“Nagaland’s young people have earned recognition in music through ability, discipline and enterprise. Our responsibility is to connect that talent with wider markets, professional networks and viable careers,” he said.
The second day will feature a band battle, participants of which are yet to be decided.
Presented by Casio India, the competition carries a cash prize pool of Rs 20 lakh, along with individual instrument prizes valued at Rs 5 lakh sponsored by Furtados and Sennheiser.
The winner will secure an opportunity to perform at the Hornbill Music Festival in Nagaland in December and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.
The awards have been structured to recognise collective performance as well as individual musical ability.
“Independent bands often have the ability but lack access to major venues, industry attention and meaningful financial support. This competition addresses those gaps through a live national contest, substantial prizes and a direct route to the Hornbill Music Festival. We are looking for original musicianship, strong performance and artistic conviction,” said TaFMA chairman Theja Meru.
Hornbill Festival will be held from December 1 to 10 in Nagaland’s Kisama Village.
The festival is known for the participation of different tribes from all over Nagaland with “more than 300 events, over 800 musicians from across the world and hundreds of performances across more than 2000 venues”, according to Metha.
“Last year, the Hornbill Festival saw participation from countries like the US, UK, Wales, and countries from Europe. The festival generated over Rs 200 crore in revenue and created 8,000 jobs in 10 days,” he said. (PTI)
