Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday said that the iconic Hornbill Festival has elevated the state's reputation on the global stage, showcasing the vibrant energy, creativity and innovation of the state’s youths to the international community, while enabling them to pursue their aspirations.
The Chief Minister said that this year marks a historic milestone as Nagaland commemorated 25 years of this famed festival, a matter of immense pride for all citizens of the northeastern.
The 10-day long (December 1-10) annual festival culminated at the picturesque Naga heritage village Kisama, 12 km from the state capital Kohima.
In the silver jubilee edition of the Hornbill Festival this year, Japan, the US, the UK (Wales) and Peru were the country partners while Sikkim and Telangana were the partner states.
The Chief Minister said that the policy of partner countries and states has added a multi-dimensional aspect to the festival, fostering collaborations, partnerships, and developmental possibilities.
The Music Festival has transcended boundaries, positioning Nagaland as an international music destination and providing unparalleled platforms for our talents within the state, Rio said adding most importantly, our collective goal of promoting, preserving, and celebrating our age-old traditions, rich cultural heritage, and the Naga way of life continues to be strengthened through this event.
The 25th edition of the annual Hornbill Festival, at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, drew a total of 2,05,968 visitors over the course of 10 days.
A senior official of Nagaland’s Tourism and Art and Culture department said that the festival saw a remarkable increase of 33.7 per cent in footfall compared to last year when 1,54,057 visitors attended.
According to the officials of the department, this year’s festival attracted a diverse crowd, with 2,527 foreign tourists, 56,217 domestic visitors, and 1,47,224 local attendees.
Day 10 on Tuesday saw the highest attendance, with 32,081 visitors, making it the peak day in terms of turnout.
The final day of the festival also witnessed the highest number of local attendees, with 23,816 people in attendance.
The first day of the festival on December 1 recorded the highest number of foreign visitors, with 513 tourists, while day-8 saw the largest number of domestic visitors, reaching 9,342.
The number of foreign tourists increased from 2,108 in 2023 to 2,375 this year.
The Hornbill Festival, known for showcasing the diverse cultures and traditions of Nagaland, continues to grow in prominence as a major cultural and tourism event in India, the official said.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi hails ISRO's century in rocket launches, urges people to dedicate a day for science
Addressing the 119th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation, saying it has hit the century in space. Last month, the country witnessed the ISRO's 100th rocket launch.
Mizoram student stabbed to death in Kerala, batchmate arrested
A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram was stabbed to death near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, Valentine, was a student at Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagaroor.
Italy PM slams Left's double standards, says when Trump, Meloni, Modi talk, they are called threat to democracy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being "nervous" over former US President Donald Trump's victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a "threat to democracy" while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.
NDRF intensifies rescue operation to save 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Sunday intensified rescue efforts to save eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of its roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after 'humiliating' hostage handovers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until Hamas ceases its "humiliating ceremonies" during the release of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal.
PM Modi on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar, Assam from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam from February 23 to 25 to participate in several developmental projects and inaugurate business summits.
US senators call out China for 'weaponising' UN 1971 resolution, vow support to Taiwan
The United States Senators accused China of subverting United Nations Resolution 2758 in an attempt to isolate Taiwan. The senators proposed a resolution in the Senate reaffirming US support for Taiwan. The resolution opposes China's attempt to prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations.