The 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland’s largest cultural event, has sparked controversy as the state government temporarily relaxed its 35-year-old liquor prohibition law. 

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• The theme for the 2024 festival is “Cultural Connect.”

About Hornbill Festival

• The Hornbill Festival was first organized in the year 2000.
• “Festival of Festivals ”: The festival acts as an umbrella of the major festivals celebrated by the 14 recognised Naga tribes in the state.
• Aim: It promotes inter-tribal interaction and celebrates Nagaland’s rich heritage thereby  fostering unity and harmony.
• Venue: It is celebrated at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, located approximately 12 kilometers from Kohima, Nagaland.
• Significance of the Name: The festival is named after the Indian hornbill (Buceros bicornis), a bird deeply associated with the socio-cultural life of the Naga tribes.

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About Hornbills

• Distribution: Found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. 
• India is home to nine species of hornbills, with the northeastern region exhibiting the highest diversity.
• Notable species:
  • Great Indian Hornbill: Found in the Western Ghats, Himalayan foothills (Uttarakhand to northeast India), and south Nepal.
  • Narcondam Hornbill: Endemic to Narcondam Island in the Andaman Sea.
• Habitat: Prefer dense tropical forests, often associated with old-growth trees. Hornbills build nests in tree cavities, indicating healthy forest ecosystems.
• Ecological Role: Known as ‘forest engineers’ or ‘farmers of the forest’ for their role in seed dispersal, aiding the regeneration of tropical trees.
  • They help maintain the ecological prosperity and balance of forests.
• Conservation Status
  • Great Indian Hornbill:
    • IUCN Status: Vulnerable.
    • Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • Narcondam Hornbill: Restricted range makes it a conservation priority.
  • Rufous-necked Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill: Near Threatened.
  • Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-throated Hornbill: Near Threatened.
  • Indian Grey Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill: Least Concern.
• Cultural Significance: Cultural symbols for ethnic communities, especially the Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Their presence is often linked to cultural identity and the health of forest habitats.