Nagaland: Day three of Hornbill Festival showcases vibrant cultural extravaganza at Kisama village
Kohima, Dec 3 – the third day of the 10‑day Hornbill Festival 2025 burst into life with a colorful display of Naga culture at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, where 18 troupes from different Naga communities wowed crowds with a range of eye‑catching performances.
The event was hosted by Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, who was joined by co‑host K. Tokugha Sukhalu, Advisor for Food and Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology. Guests of honour included the Ambassador of Bhutan, Consul General Jigme Thinlye Namgyal; Air Marshal Surat Singh, Commanding‑in‑Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Indian Air Force; Lt. Gen. Mohit Wadhwa, GOC 101 Area; Simon Lee Broughton, Founding Editor of Songlines; and other dignitaries.
Tourism Department officials highlighted the day’s rich showcase of Naga dances and folk traditions, each reflecting its tribe’s unique identity. The Zeliang troupe staged Akoina Lin, a lively folk dance that’s especially popular among the youth, depicting merrymaking and likening dancers to falcons and butterflies. The Yimkhiung Cultural Troupe presented Kha Kiaklak Rhimo, while the Tikhar troupe performed Tainang Jong Paihi Ai, a women’s folk dance usually seen at major festivals to celebrate praise, hospitality and the sharing of premium wine.
The Sumi troupe demonstrated Akikiti, a traditional kick‑fighting sport practiced by young men in the morung that emphasizes skill, fitness and self‑defence, and is traditionally shown during festivals such as Tuluni, Ahuna and Tixini. Meanwhile, groups from Sangtam, Rengma, Tseminyu, Pochury, Phom, Lotha, Kuki, Angami, Kachari, Garo, Chang, Chakhesang, Ao and Konyak each presented their own traditional performances.
According to officials, the third day offered visitors a captivating journey through the cultural richness, traditions and storytelling heritage of the Naga tribes, leaving them with an immersive and memorable experience.
At the opening ceremony on Monday the 1st, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the festival’s host, declared that the Hornbill Festival is an expression of the Nagas’ way of life; it represents their unity, their rich legacy, living traditions and reverence for ancestors. He noted that over 86 percent of the state’s two‑million population (2011 Census) belongs to tribal communities.
Nagaland boasts 17 major tribes and numerous sub‑tribes, each with its own cultural heritage, traditional dances, music, attire and customs. This year’s 26th edition of the 10‑day Hornbill Festival partnered with Austria, France, Ireland, Malta, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to reinforce regional cooperation; Arunachal Pradesh served as the state partner.
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