Relevance:
The 10-day-long Hornbill Festival started in Nagaland on December 1st 2022 (60th Statehood Day).
About Hornbill Festival:
- It is celebrations of the indigenous warrior tribes of Nagaland.
- Aim – To revive and protect the culture of Nagaland.
- It is named after Hornbill – a tropical bird reflected in tribal cultural expressions, songs and dances.
- Conceptualised in 2000, to popularise Nagaland among the tourists.
- Highlights: Hornbill International Rock Festival and Naga Morungs exhibition
Basic Facts – Nagaland:
- Boundaries: Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam and Myanmar.
- Capital: Kohima (southern part of Nagaland)
- Climate type: Monsoonal (wet-dry) Climate.
- Annual rainfall: Between 70 and 100 inches (More during Southwest monsoon)
- Vegetation: Tropical and Subtropical Evergreen forests and Coniferous forests
- Practice of Jhum (shifting) cultivation.
- State animal: Mithun (Gayal)
- Tribes: Konyaks (largest tribe), Aos, Tangkhuls, Semas, and Angamis, Lothas, Sangtams, Phoms, Changs, Khiem Hungama, Yimchunger, Zeliangs, Chakhesangs (Chokri), and Rengmas.
- Major occupation: Agriculture
- Protected Areas –
- Intanki National Park
- Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary
- Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary
About Hornbills:
- Found in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia.
- India is home to 9 species of hornbills –
- Cultural symbols of Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
- Threats: Illegal logging, hunting, poaching etc.
