KOHIMA: The 26th Edition of the Hornbill Festival 2025 culminated with pomp and gaiety at Unity Plaza, Naga Heritage village, Kisama near Kohima this evening.
Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, in his message, elaborated why Hornbill Festival is cherished as the ‘Festival of Festivals’, as it is a space where traditions, culture and cuisines of the Naga people are proudly showcased and celebrated. This festival has offered our tribes, villages, craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and youth a meaningful platform to present our magnificent diversity and talents to the world, he said. More than a celebration, it has served as a meeting ground where cultures intersect, generations connect, and aspirations take shape, he also said.
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“This festival is a testament to who we are as people, proud of our heritage, confident in our identity and hopeful for our future. Let this spirit of togetherness not remain confined within the boundaries of Kisama village, but extend into our daily lives”, TR Zeliang stated.
Over the past 26 years of celebration of the Hornbill Festival, Nagas have witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries from the country and across the world. The Hornbill Festival has become a powerful cultural soft power of Nagaland, placing our State prominently on the world map.
“The misgivings about Nagaland and Naga people, often shaped by distance and misunderstanding, are now being dispelled as visitors experience our warm hospitality, our kindness and our rich cultural tapestry”, TR Zeliang stated. They return homes carrying goodwill and cherished memories, he also said. TR Zeliang reminded the people to carry its spirit forward and urged all the visitors to bring more people to experience the beauty, diversity and traditions of the Naga people.
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Deputy Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland, India, Raymond Mullen, while speaking on the occasion. said that their entire team has been deeply moved and overwhelmed by the generosity, the friendship, and the warmth shown to them by the people of Nagaland.
He mentioned that for Ireland, being a ‘partner country’ at this festival has been both an honour and a profound source of pride. “Hornbill Festival is far more than a celebration, it is a declaration of identity, of creativity and of cultural confidence and added that, Ireland has learned much from Nagaland, about resilience, identity, and the transformative power of cultural pride”, he said.
He said that, they look forward to building friendships with the young people of Nagaland, whose talent and ambition are unmistakable and the beginning of deeper collaboration in education, research, tourism, culture, sport, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and, most importantly, people-to-people exchange.
H.E Reuben Gauci, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta to India, in his speech, said Nagaland holds a special place in his heart, a place where he can see and feel the warmth of the people. He stated that the Naga people and the Maltese people share many similarities.
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He also brought along a Maltese poem that conveyed the message of love and praise for the State of Nagaland, and thanked the organisers of the Hornbill Festival.
He also expressed his hope that this will not be the last time Malta participates in this beautiful, energetic, and remarkable festival.
Meanwhile, Task Force for Music and Arts (TaFMA) enthralled the visitors and well-wishers with their stimulating and spectacular performances.
Following the tradition of the Hornbill Festival, the reigning Miss Nagaland 2025, Linoka K Achumi lit the bonfire, marking the closure of the 26th Edition of the Hornbill Festival.