The recently concluded annual Hornbill Festival in Nagaland showcased the rich cultural heritage of the state. The festival was also able to attract many tourists from India and abroad.
A large number of domestic and foreign tourists, who gathered at the 10-day long gala event, were enthralled by traditional sports, folk dances and ethnic food.
"Landscape is beautiful, people are beautiful and they are so kind. We have to see lots more thing. I'll take all this wonderful memory at home," said Claudia, a tourist from Italy.
Jyoti, a tourist from Delhi, expressed similar views and said, "I have heard about the hornbill festival last year so I have been thinking that I have to come to Nagaland at hornbill festival so I booked my ticket. Here everything is fabulous people are so kind, it's so lovely. I am so happy to be here."
Events like a "Chilli" eating competition were the major crowd pullers with the winner bagging a cash prize of Rs. 20,000.
The visitors also enjoyed body tattoo art with international tattoo artists like Heiko Gantenberg from Germany and Mo Naga from Nagaland sharing a common platform at the festival.
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Tattoo Artist Mo Naga said that he wants to promote indigenous tattoo art forms.
"I came to hornbill festival last year and I set up my own tattoo studio with the help of art and culture department of the state and it was quite successful event. And I introduced the new tribal art of the Nagas which I created through my research work so this time also I came back again with my friend from Germany," he said.
Many local and international music bands performed during the Rock concert at Indira Gandhi Stadium.
The Hornbill Festival was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised major economic development and promotion of tourism in the region.