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50 years of Nagaland Statehood
Addressing the gathering, the President said that it is a proud privilege for him to be a part of the celebration and congratulated the people and the Government of Nagaland on their completion of fifty eventful years of the State. Also greeting the people on the occasion of the Hornbill Festival, the President said that it is an event which brings together all the tribes of Nagaland to preserve and also to provide new impetus to cultures and traditions. The President said that fifty years ago, a great teacher, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan inaugurated a new State called Nagaland where, on that occasion, he called upon the Government to capture the hearts and minds of the people. He said that the traditions and practices of the Naga people are rich and unique and called upon all Indians to visit Nagaland and strengthen the bond as well as the economy.
He also mentioned the tremendous potential of the North East region of India which can become a magnet for major investments. He further said that the North East region will serve as the 
most important area to propagate trade with the South East Asian countries.
Nagaland Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar in his speech, greeted the people of Nagaland on the 50th anniversary of Statehood where he mentioned that after 50 years, the people of Nagaland are lucky to find in their midst another President to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Statehood. He said that the Hornbill Festival is truly a ‘Festival of Festivals’ stating that it is an occasion to celebrate joy and happiness. He also said that the Hornbill Festival symbolises an emerging Nagaland which is energetic, young and vibrant and that the festival is an opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people of the State.
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio said that it is a landmark occasion as Nagaland was born after a lot of sacrifices. He honoured the leaders for their sacrifices and thanked all those responsible for creating the State. On the occasion of the Hornbill Festival, Rio called upon all to keep alive the traditions and cultures and preserve their core identity.
The President, earlier released the Commemorative Stamp of Nagaland and also released a book authored by the Governor of Odissa, Dr. S.C. Jamir entitled ‘Nagaland - 50 years and Beyond’. The Governor of Nagaland, Dr. Ashwani Kumar released the Coffee Table Book on the 50th anniversary of Statehood, the first copy of which was presented to the President of India.
The Coffee Table Book, dedicated to the people of the State, is an attempt to capture the journey that the State of Nagaland has been on since that very momentous day 50 years ago. With combined elements of political history, social critique, travelogue and part compendium, the publication brings together a broad array of subjects, organised thematically - from the historical and political conditions, pre - Statehood to the very essence of what quintessentially Nagaland is today.
Organised by the Nagaland Government, the Hornbill Festival is an annual tourism promotional event which showcases Nagaland’s rich traditional and cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur. It is the coming together of all the elements that make up the total Nagaland. The Hornbill Festival is a collaborative celebration of all Naga tribes at one venue and has been coined as the ‘Festival of Festivals’. The Festival is a Tribute to the great ‘Hornbill’ which is the most admired and revered bird for the Nagas for its qualities of alertness and grandeur. The majestic bird is closely linked with the social and cultural life of the Nagas as reflected in various tribal folklores, dances and songs. The awe and fascination for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all tribal traditional headgear worn during the festival and is indicative of the unity of the Nagas.
The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland is a cultural extravaganza to revive, protect and preserve the wealth and uniqueness of the Naga heritage, while for the visitors to this event, it is a means for a comprehensive understanding of Naga people, their land and culture.
Over the years, the Hornbill Festival has gained in stature and scale. It has now become a unique platform for tourists to witness the cultural diversity not only of the Nagas but of the seven other sister States of North East India in all its wonder and glory.
The ten day long Hornbill Festival which was held at the Kisama Heritage Village was concluded on December 10th evening through the symbolic lighting of a bonfire by Miss Nagaland 2013, Benjongmenla Jamir. The 17 cultural troupes which participated in the Hornbill Festival also took part in the Unity Dance.
Nagaland Minister of Tourism, Arts and culture and Election E.E. Pangteang declared the 10 day long celebration of the Hornbill Festival 2013 closed. The Minister in his address thanked Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, the Tourism Department, all Tribal Hoho and all the cultural troupes of different Naga tribes.
Xavier Rutsa
Underground Authority wins India’s biggest rock competition Hornbill International Music Festival puts Nagaland on global music map
The curtains fell on India’s biggest rock competition in Kohima on December 10th as Kolkata - based rockers ‘Underground Authority’ were adjudged the winners of the Hornbill International 
Rock competition. The alternative rap rockers from Kolkata outshone the best of the best of 150 bands that entered the competition to walk home with the winners’ prize bouquet of Rs.10 lakhs the largest prize money for any rock competition in India – and a host of other gifts and packages.
The spectacular finale of the rock competition at the Solitary Park in Kohima saw the Nagaland Government’s Music Task Force – organizers of the competition – dole out prize money totalling up to a whooping Rs.17.2 lakhs besides other gift items. ‘We The Giants’ from Nagaland and ‘The F16s’ from Chennai were placed first and second runners up respectively. These bands went home Rs.3.5 lakhs and Rs.2.5 lakhs richer respectively.
The Hornbill rock competition, an integral part of the annual Hornbill festival, had evolved from a local beat contest about ten years back to a national level contest from 2008. This year the Festival was launched globally under the title of Hornbill International Music Festival. Bands from USA, UK, UAE and other countries had taken part in the music festival this year.
Herein it is imperative to state that Nagaland is the only State in the country to have a special Government cell namely the Music Task Force, for the promotion of music. The rock competition is part of the Music Task Force’s Hornbill International Music Festival which continues for the entire duration of the Hornbill Festival. “Besides the competition, other events in the music festival included a special performance of Biuret Band, Republic of Korea to commemorate the achieving musicians of Nagaland, a performance by Semper Souls (USA), a country and blues concert besides a choral music competition. The Hornbill music festival also saw the staging of the Queen musical play, ‘We will rock you’, directed by Ate Kevichusa,” Gugs Chishi, Director of Music Task Force, Nagaland Government informed.
The Hornbill International rock competition marked the conclusion of the 10 day long Hornbill cultural extravaganza. According to Nagaland Chief Minister Nephiu Rio, the State witnessed an inflow of more than 1.6 lakhs tourists during the ten-day carnival.
The rock competition also saw prizes being awarded in the individual category. While S. Serivasagar (Underground Authority) won the Best Vocalist award, the Best Bass Guitarist award went to Aren Longkumer (Infuse, Nagaland). Best Bassist went to Soumyadeep Batthacharya (Underground Authority), the Best Drummer prize was awarded to Sourish Kumar (Underground Authority) and Best Keyboardist was awarded to Harshan Radhakhrishnan (F16s). All the individual winners were awarded Rs.30,000 each.
Besides the prize money, sponsored gifts were also given to the winners. True School of Music, Mumbai also sponsored various special category prizes worth Rs.30 lakhs. Popular Naga band and winners of MTV Rock On, Divine Connection also made a special appearance at the show.
The Hornbill International Rock contest was divided into two segments: the first part involved submission of compositions by rock outfits of the country. The second segment saw the selected bands battling it out for three days of competition at the venue. As many as 150 bands had applied for the competition and after gruelling rounds of auditions, nine bands were selected for the grand finale.
