Like the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end” the ten days mega Festival, 24th edition of the Hornbill Festival concluded this evening with a spectacular show of colourful display of Naga culture and music here at the Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.

Speaking at the closing ceremony as the honoured Guest, United States Consul General, Melinda Pavek expressing her happiness to be part of the Hornbill Festival also reminded the people that today marks the 75th anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges, ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. This landmark document enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, she said.

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Pavek also said that this document remains an aspiration in many ways, and our efforts to live up to its full potential are inherent in our values, as people, as communities, as tribes, as nations.

She remarked that festivals like Hornbill Festival, with the 17 major Naga tribes represented together, in partnership, are a way of preserving the unique cultures that make Nagaland special, which is important to ensuring each person’s inalienable human rights.

“With those rights also come responsibilities. The responsibility to vote for good governance. The responsibility to support rule of law,” added Pavek.

Mentioning that, Human Right of Freedom of Expression brings with it the responsibility to advocate for improvements in society without hatred against specific people or groups, she said this is increasingly challenging in a world where people spend more time on social media than do talking to one’s neighbours and members of communities from other backgrounds.

Pavek, admitting that the United States, made many mistakes in their treatment to their Tribal communities, she said that the Tribal Nations in the United States still face many barriers to fully exercise their inherent sovereignty, especially in federal funding programs.

“On December 6, as part of the White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden signed an historic Executive Order to ensure that Tribal Nations have greater autonomy over how they invest federal funding. The US executive Order affirms that Tribal self-governance is about the fundamental right of a people to determine their own destiny and to prosper and flourish on their own,” said Pavek.

Further, she asserted that Hornbill Festival may be one of the first in India and the Northeast that included representatives from US Tribal Nations, adding that it will not be the last as the bonds of our people, in pursuit of peace and prosperity, for the betterment of our planet grow stronger each and every day as we build these connections.

Meanwhile, honoured guest, British Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Andrew Fleming said the United Kingdom is very keen to engage more deeply with Nagaland not just culturally but in different sectors, including horticulture, health care, skills training, education and visitor economy as tourism has huge potential in Nagaland. He however, said that coming in the middle of the festival perhaps, is not the best time to be having those conversations and assured that his team will come to discuss more on the said sectors and work with the Nagaland government and get great benefit especially for the people of Nagaland.

Stating that UK and Nagaland share a love for Music, he said UK musicians have also collaborated in the past hornbill festivals under the British council and further, exuded hope that Nagaland musicians and British young musicians can connect together in the future Hornbill Festival to entertain the ever growing and wonderful crowd that attends the colourful spectrum.

The closing ceremony was marked with lighting of bonfire by United States Consul General Melinda Pavek, British Deputy High Commissioner Dr Andrew Fleming, Minister for Tourism and Higher Education Temjen Imna Along, Miss Nagaland 2023 Neiketuno Sechü along with the first and second runners-up, which was followed by the Unity Dance, which signifies the unity of the Naga people.

Taking to X, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expressed his gratitude to the partner countries and partner state and sponsors and partners for elevating the festival of festivals to a grander scale. He also extended his gratitude to the guests and visitors whose presence made the festival more vibrant and special.

“As the 10-day cultural extravaganza of #HornbillFestival concludes, I thank our Partner Countries, Partner State & sponsors/partners for elevating the #FestivalOfFestivals to a grander scale. Grateful to our guests/visitors whose presence made the Festival made the Festival more vibrant & special,” Rio said.

As the 10-day cultural extravaganza of #HornbillFestival concludes, I thank our Partner Countries, Partner State & sponsors/partners for elevating the #FestivalOfFestivals to a grander scale. Grateful to our guests/visitors whose presence made the Festival more vibrant & special. pic.twitter.com/x0PS4JMYeH

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) December 10, 2023