Nagaland Hornbill Festival
Taking a break from bird photography, we attended the annual Hornbill Festival in Nagaland in December 2010. We were absolutely blown away by the event — the performances, the arrangements, the stalls, and the overall attitude of every tribe (and individual) who participated. The event offers a fabulous insight into Naga tribal life and is beautifully put together over just a few days. No wonder it is called the ‘Festival of Festivals’. Incredibly popular with Westerners, this should be on the ‘must attend’ list for every Indian!
The fourteen tribes of Nagaland are Angami Naga, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchungrü, and Zeliang, of which the Konyaks, Angamis, Aos, Lothas, and Sumis are the largest Naga tribes. Tribe and clan traditions and loyalties play an important part in the life of a Naga. The festival takes place between the 1st and the 7th of December every year at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima. All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this festival with gusto and fervour. Here are some of the sights of the festival.
The images here are from Leica M8 / M9 using 35mm and 75mm Summicron lenses. Dec 2010.
