Nagaland’s cultural extravaganza wraps-up with a Human Rights touch

Ten-day 24th Hornbill Festival 2023 culminates

Our Correspondent
Kisama | December 11

The 24th Hornbill Festival 2023 wrapped up this evening at the scenic Naga Heritage Village Kisama, near Kohima with a plea to ensure every individual’s inalienable human rights and unity, while highlighting the festival as a crucial step to this end.

Touted “Festival of Festival,” the event is celebrated from December 1 to 10 annually with the objective to reviving and protecting the rich culture and traditions of the Nagas.

Two honoured guests- United States Consul General, Melinda Pavek and  British Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Andrew Fleming along with Nagaland’s  Tourism & Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along, Miss Nagaland 2023 Neiketuno Sechü with 1st Runner-up Vimgha Sheqi and 2nd Runner-up Ilihika Aye lit the bonfire to mark the culmination the festival.

The ceremony was marked by Unity Dance, signifying the spirit of the festival as well as cultural presentations entitled ‘Made in Nagaland” by Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA).

First in India to involve US Tribal Nations’ representatives 
Sharing greetings, the US Consul General remarked that the Hornbill Festival might be among the first in India and the North-East to involve representatives from US Tribal Nations.

“But, I believe it won’t be the last,” she affirmed, underscoring  that the “bonds of our people, in pursuit of peace and prosperity, for the betterment of our planet, grow stronger each and every day as we build these connections.”

Expressing her happiness to be part of the festival, Pavek said that December 10 also marks the 75th anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,” she shared.

This document remains an aspiration in many ways, and our efforts to live up to its full potential are inherent in our values, as people, as communities, as tribes, as nations, Pavek said.

She further noted that festivals like Hornbill, with the representation of all 17 major Naga tribes together in partnership, are a means of preserving the unique cultures that make Nagaland special. This is an important step to ensure each person’s inalienable human rights, she added.

The Consul General, however, stressed that those rights also come with responsibilities. “The responsibility to vote for good governance, the responsibility to support the rule of law.”

Pavek maintained that the human right of freedom of expression brings with it the responsibility to advocate for improvements in society without hatred against specific people or groups.

“This is increasingly challenging in a world where we spend more time on social media than we do talking to our neighbors and members of our communities from other backgrounds,” she added. 

Stating that she is honoured to have with her two representatives from three great Native American communities, Pavek said “My nation, the United States, made many mistakes in our treatment of our Tribal communities.”

“Today, Tribal Nations in the United States still face many barriers to fully exercise their inherent sovereignty, especially in federal funding programmes,” she remarked. 

However, she informed that on December 6, President Joe Biden signed a historic Executive Order during the White House Tribal Nations Summit to ensure that Tribal Nations have greater autonomy over how they invest federal funding. 

The order underscores that Tribal self-governance is a fundamental right for a people to determine their destiny and prosper on their own, Pavek added.

UK looking to collaborate with Nagaland 
Meanwhile, Dr Fleming said that the United Kingdom is looking collaborate with Nagaland not only in culture but also in education, skills training, horticulture, agro-tech, sports and in exploring the potential of the  ‘visitor economy’ in the state as part of its focus on promoting tourism.

He also noted that UK and Nagaland share common love for music and musicians from his country have been part of the Hornbill Festival earlier under the auspices of the British Council.
The UK is looking to strengthen ties with the Nagaland further in the future, he added.

Celebration of faithfulness and unity
In closing remarks, Nagaland Tourism Minister noted that the festival has had “witnessed a remarkable coming together of diverse communities each representing a unique facade of Nagaland tribes, Government bodies, NGOs, artists and entrepreneurs to wave a beautiful picture of cultural richness and share the essence of Naga heritage with the world.”

The festival is a platform to exchange knowledge, experiences and celebrations of unity in diversity, he noted. 

Along also expressed gratitude to all the chief guests, honoured guests and invitees whose presence added vibrancy to the cultural extravaganza as well as other stakeholders and participants.  
The envisioning of the Hornbill Festival for the Nagas reflects the celebration of faithfulness and unity, he underscored, encouraging visitors to carry this message and resonate with the festival’s spirit.