Governor of Nagaland and interlocutor for Naga peace talks, Ravindra Narayana Ravi, will be the chief host of the 20th Hornbill Festival, while Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio will be the host of the festival.
Hornbill Festival, dubbed as the festival of festivals, is a yearly event that continues from December 1 to the 10th.
This time around, the department is expecting more tourists, considering the state government signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbnb, world’s largest community driven hospitality company, the advisor said.
‘Hornbill Festival is gaining in stature every year and has now become a unique platform, drawing lots of attraction from people across the globe. Every year, celebration gets bigger and better,’ he added.
The inaugural function of the festival will be held at the main arena, in Kisama at 4pm, after the celebration of Statehood Day in the morning. The side activities and events at Kisama as well as other places will be inaugurated on the same evening, Yepthomi said.
A total of 17 cultural troupes including 850 artistes will participate throughout the event. An elderly man from the Khiamniungan community will pronounce the traditional blessing this year. As was the case last year, the department is imposing restriction on single-use plastic and tobacco at Kisama. (Agencies)