A vibrant slice of Nagaland’s rich cultural heritage came alive in the national capital during the two-day Autumn Festival at Nagaland House, offering a glimpse of the famed Hornbill Festival, which draws domestic and international tourists every December.
“The Autumn Festival is a prelude to the Hornbill Festival, which is held from December 1–10 every year. It is called the ‘Festival of Festivals’,” Nagaland Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along, said.
Along highlighted the festival’s focus on sustainability, a hallmark of Nagaland’s tourism ethos. “The USP of the Autumn Festival is sustainability. Nagaland, being an organic state and a very conscious environmental state, we believe in sustainable tourism. We want that aspect to be our strength in the tourism sector, and the Autumn Festival showcases that,” he said.
The Minister added that the Hornbill Festival reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Swadeshi and India’s diverse traditions. “PM Narendra Modi’s vision is an amalgamation of things that is Bharat. His vision of using Swadeshi, being organic and appreciating cultures and traditions, this is what is shown in the Hornbill Festival,” he noted.
This year marks the fourth edition of the Autumn Festival in Delhi. “Every year, we bring a small vision of the Hornbill Festival to the people in and around Delhi. It showcases our culture, tradition, with the contemporary music, arts and our sustainable livelihood products, whether it is food, clothes or the way of life,” said Along.
Also read: How the Hornbill Festival turned into a 'zero-waste' success
He also encouraged the youth to adopt environmentally responsible practices. “Things that we do must be done in such a way that it leaves a mark beyond your lifetime,” he remarked.
Ireland’s Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly, who attended the festival, said he is eager to visit Nagaland. “It very much reminds me of Ireland, because we are also a very green country and I am really looking forward to experiencing that and to developing links between Ireland and Nagaland,” he told ANI.
Autumn Festival 2025, held from October 24-25, featured handicrafts, handloom, horticultural exhibits, and a live performance by the Nagaland Police Mahila Band. The event underlined the theme of sustainability, seamlessly blending art, culture, and ecology.
The Hornbill Festival, conceptualised in 2000 and held annually at Kisama Heritage Village, is a ten-day celebration of Nagaland’s tribal heritage. The festival presents traditional performances, indigenous games, village walks, treks, and exhibitions of tourism and handicraft products.
Nagaland, home to 17 major tribes and several sub-tribes, welcomed over 1 lakh domestic and 5,000 international tourists in 2024 alone. Known as the ‘Land of Festivals’, it celebrates events such as Skrenyi of the Angami tribe, Moatsu of the Ao tribe, and Yemshen of the Pochury tribe, reflecting its diverse cultural tapestry.
The 26th edition of the Hornbill Festival will be held from December 1–10, promising a spectacle of tradition, music, and sustainable tourism.
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