President inaugurated Nagaland's Hornbill festival

President of India Pranab Mukharjee on 1 December 2013 inaugurated the Nagaland's traditional Hornbill Festival in Nagaland.

About Hornbill Festival

Hornbill (name of a bird) Festival, considered one of the biggest events in the state, showcases the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the Naga people. In the festival, music and dance make for an enchanting display of their ethnicity and diversity. To revive, protect and preserve this heritage and to enable visitors to understand it, the Hornbill Festival is celebrated through a collaborative effort of all Naga tribes.

The 10-day festival began with sounding of the gong by the President.The President was also presented with traditional Naga gear like 'Dao' (a small sword), among others. He wore 'Tsula' (traditional head gear) and posed with the Dao to portray a ferocious Naga warrior.
 
The festival will have several traditional and modern cultural programmes, besides interesting competitions like 'Naga Chilli eating contest'.

The hornbill festival for the first time inaugurated by the Former President Dr S Radhakrishnan on 1 December1963.