Ongoing ten-day Hornbill festival at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, continues to attract both foreign and local tourists as hundreds of festive-goers throng the venue each day. Colourful and enthralling cultural performances, various competitions/events, varieties of stalls, music etc. continues to fascinate festive-goers.
Culturally Yours: The sixth day of the Hornbill Festival also witnessed colourful cultural events under the theme “Culturally Yours” which was graced by Lt General, Anil Chauhan and vice chancellor, Guwahati University, Dr. Mridul Hazarika as the chief guest and the guest of honour respectively.
Addressing the gathering in the morning session, Lt. General Chauhan, said the festival which was initiated by state government to showcase the ethnicity of Naga tribes has brought the state of Nagaland into the tourist map of India.
He said the festival connects the people of the state to their roots, besides promoting tranquillity and harmony within the society.
Lt. General Chauhan also asserted that Hornbill festival provides an opportunity to the people of Nagaland to connect with the rest of the country particularly the North- Eastern states.
“The dances, costumes and tradition exhibiting at the festival are a reflection of simplicity, honesty, open-heartedness and the martial abilities of the Nagas,” he said.
Lt. General Chauhan also pointed out that the Assam Rifles and the Army stationed in Nagaland are committed to establishing peace in the region referring.
Highlights of the morning session include, Khaozaosie (dance of merry making) by Khiamniungan cultural troupe, Sho Shinpu (demonstration) by Phom cultural troupe, Topfü Modu by Rengma cultural troupe, Suta lam by Kuki cultural troupe, Baijubu (serpentine dance) by Kachari cultural troupe, Alukumlale (folk song) by Sumi cultural troupe, singing in praises of Hornbill Festival by Sangtam cultural troupe, Mekhruseipie by Angami cultural troupe and Anding O’ka by Garo cultural troupe.
AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal, Anil Khosla graced the afternoon session of as the chief guest.
Highlights of the afternoon session include, Chang cultural troupe performed the local grinding tool song, Zeliang cultural troupe presented the Tinggeune Lim (honey bee dance), Yimchungru cultural troupe, performed Are Jangachihkhi (settlement of boundary dispute), Pochury cultural troupe presented the ShahoShaho, Yangkhum (Burial Rites) was performed by Konyak cultural troupe, Hozhale (folk song) was performed by Chakhesang cultural troupe, the Alu Meyo was presented by the Ao cultural troupe and the Amongi Namvu Hono Chete Merengta (traditional games) was performed by the Lotha Cultural Troupe.
Pineapple eating contest: First ever pineapple eating competition was won by Ashish from Delhi on Wednesday at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
The competition organised by Department of Horticulture in collaboration with XL Management and supported by Department of Tourism was held inclusively for the domestic and international tourists with a view to promote the Naga pineapple outside the State.
Naga pineapple which is among the juiciest in the world is grown in abundance around two belts of the State, Medziphema and Changtongya. They are very sweet and contain very little or no fiber.
Winner, Ashish and participants were all presented with a certificate of citation from HoD Horticulture, Dr. R. Elithung Lotha.
Other participants were, Mayan Yagdar, Yair Katz, Doron Sages, Dror Sages from Israel, Heather Layton from the U.S, Shikha, Abishek, Rayon Bhatt from Bagdogra, SarathBabu, Rajesh Rajan from Kerala, Ambika Toppu from Jharkhand, Pallavi Solar, Phillomenia from Maharashtra, Julie Quincey from U.K, Manisha Sarkar, Suveena. D from Mumbai, Ciaran Brook from U.K, Yoshi from Japan, Albert, Donna, Van Zyl from South Africa. (DIPR)
Assam Rifles stall: Headquarters Inspector General of Assam Rifles (IGAR)-North has established an Assam Rifles stall at Naga Heritage village, Kisama on Wednesday.
According to Assam Rifles, the aim of the stall was to help people familiarise with the role, capabilities and work done by Assam Rifles in the Nagaland as well as to provide an insight into various entry schemes to join Assam Rifles, army and territorial army.
The release informed that the one of the main attractions of the stall was “weapon display” where children, youth and elderly flocked to witness semi-automatic weapons, automatic machine guns, rocket launchers and other equipment used by the security forces. Other activities at the stall included display of history of Assam Rifles, screening of movies on and information corner.