Tikhir tribe which was officially recognized as a separate Naga tribe on April 2, 2023 participated in the 24th edition of Hornbill Festival. Speaking to Nagaland post, chairman of Pokphur village, Yanstuthong Tikhir shared details about their participation in the festival that included a group of 51 troops.
He said being first-time participants, there was an excitement and nervousness among the troops and that they managed to prepare folk songs, traditional costumes within a tight timeframe of three days.
He expressed gratitude, to the state government for providing them with the opportunity to showcase their traditions at the festival. Yanstuthong also acknowledged the time constraints but emphasized their commitment to display their cultural heritage and conveyed the troops’ enthusiasm about being part of the festival. He expressed hope for even grander preparations in 2024, as it would be the 25th anniversary of the Hornbill Festival. The troops comprised of 21 men and 29 women, aged between 35 and 50 years.