Focus: GS I: Art and Culture
Why in News?
Recently, Vice President inaugurated the 23rd edition of Hornbill Festival.
About Hornbill Festival
- This festival usually takes place between the 1st and the 10th of December every year in Kohima.
- The festival gets its name from the Indian Hornbill.
- The Hornbill is a common bird among the folklores and tribes of Nagaland and can be commonly seen prancing around in the forests of Nagaland.
- Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama which is about 12 km from Kohima.
- This is a very popular festival of Nagaland. Often cited as “festival of all festivals”.
- The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.
Great hornbill
- It is also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill is one of the larger members of the hornbill family.
- It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
- Its impressive size and colour have made it important in many tribal cultures and rituals.
- The great hornbill is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in captivity.
- It is predominantly frugivorous, but is an opportunist and will prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds.
- IUCN status: Vulnerable.
