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The Hornbill Festival is a reflection of the rich culture, lifestyle and food habits of Nagaland and it is the largest festival of the warrior tribes of Nagaland wherein the celebration continues for 10 days.

About Festival

• The 10-day cultural and tourism extravaganza annually begins at the start of December and coincides with Nagaland’s statehood day.
• It is organised by the State Tourism and Art & Culture Departments, the Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km from Kohima.
• The nomenclature of KISAMA is derived from two villages namely, Kigwema (KI) and Phesama (SA) and MA which means village, on whose land the Naga Heritage Village is established and commissioned by the State Government of Nagaland.
• The festival derives its name from the bird hornbill (also called Dhanesh bird) which occupies an important place in the culture and historic tales of Naga tribes. The festival is a tribute to this bird, known for its qualities of grandeur and alertness.