Hornbill Festival 2023 begins on December 1: Check how to buy tickets and other key details

The Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, located about 12 kilometres from state capital Kohima, is the hub of the festivities. It is where 16 Naga tribes come together to showcase the cultural richness of the Northeastern state. The festival provides a unique opportunity to experience Nagaland’s diversity through traditional performances, food stalls, handicrafts and more.

The tourists and visitors can book tickets at the venue for different events. The tickets are available separately for each event on the respective dates. The tourists from outside the state will need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to visit the Hornbill Festival site.

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The Hornbill Festival boasts an array of events, including the Traditional Naga Morungs Exhibition, Traditional songs and dances; Arts and Crafts sales; Local Games, Naga wrestling, Traditional Archery, Flower shows, Fashion shows, Beauty Contests, Herbal Medicine Stalls, displays of paintings, sculptures, and wood carvings and Food Stalls.

The grand finale, the Hornbill National Rock Concert, transforms the night into a global celebration, with rock bands from across the country and other nations competing for the spotlight.

From its inception as a showcase of Nagaland’s heritage in 2000, the Hornbill Festival has flourished into an internationally acclaimed event. The addition of the Rock Music Festival in 2007 catapulted the festival onto the global stage, attracting not only tourists but also artists from various corners of the world. Today, it serves as evidence of the shared cultural wealth spanning the entire northeastern region of India.

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In the year 2022, the Hornbill Festival attracted 1,026 international tourists and 48,413 visitors from across India. The festival also boasted an impressive local attendance of more than 90,000 people, bringing the total gathering to a whopping 1.5 lakh.

For those planning to join the festivities, it's crucial to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Nagaland. Travellers can secure this permit from the Office of Deputy Resident Commissioner in Guwahati, Shillong, Delhi, and Kolkata. Alternatively, an ‘on-arrival’ ILP can be obtained from the DC office of Dimapur. To avoid any delays, it’s advisable to apply for the permit early in the morning.