Hornbill Festival to be zero-waste; troupes from Thailand and Hungary to perform

Nagaland is all geared up to host the Hornbill Festival from December 1, 2019, and is aiming for a clean festival, i.e., to create zero waste and ban single-use plastic. In addition to the extravagant performances by 17 major tribes of Nagaland and popular artists from the Northeast, reports have it that cultural troupes from Hungary and Thailand will also be performing this time.
Also, this year, apart from cultural performances, trekking and hiking to Mount Teyozwu and Dzukhou Valley, a World War 2 rally and a stone-pulling event at Mima, a heritage walk in Kohima will also be organised as part of the Hornbill Festival.

While speaking to the media, Advisor for Tourism, Art and Culture, Khehovi Yeputhomi informed that the 10-day festival will be held in Kohima, Mokokchung, Dimapur, Phek, and Wokha districts, with the prominent arena being the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama. He also stated that tourism ministers from several states, apart from the officials of Union Ministry of Tourism, would be taking part in the festivities that would be hosted by the Nagaland Governor.
Further, Tourism Director Akhale V. Kham mentioned that to ensure a plastic-free environment and to create awareness, the festival will also witness a total ban on single-use plastic. The Tourism Department has even requested the tribal bodies to extend their cooperation.
Referring to the ban in single-use plastic, the convenor of Zero Waste Himalayan, Nagaland (ZWHN) stated that zero waste is all about discarding the use of Styrofoam, plastic bottles, plastic gift wraps, thermocol plates, cups and spoons, tetra packs juice bottles etc.