The renowned Hornbill Festival, named after the bird, is one of the largest celebrations of the indigenous warrior tribes of Nagaland, in India's far north east region. The hornbill is particularly revered by the Nagas and is reflected in tribal folklore, dances and songs.
It was in the year 2000, that the Nagaland government embarked upon an ambitious project to promote the cultural aspects of Nagaland, through a weeklong long festival to coincide with the celebration of Nagaland Statehood Day on 1st December. This led to the beginning of the Hornbill festival, which is now one of the biggest cultural extravaganzas in the North East.
What emerged from a local event has now transformed into a national and international festival. It has become a must visit and notable attraction for those looking to explore the North Eastern part of India.