The premier festival of the Khiamniungan tribe, Khaozaosei-Hok-Ah, concluded on Saturday amid music, dance and food and most importantly embracing unity and peace. The Mini Hornbill Festival had earlier begun on 18th January 2024.

Special guest of the event P Longon, Member of Legislative Assembly and Chairman of Noklak DPDB appreciated the Khiamniungan Tribal Council and its team for hosting the grand festival and also encouraged them to aspire to make it better each year. He also lauded Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s to celebrate the Hornbill Festival in the State and mini hornbill festivals in the districts.

Longon said that since it is mostly the old people who form and initiate cultural club, he encouraged the younger men and women to establish their own cultural troupes with the hope to preserve cultural dances and songs.

The MLA mentioned that lives of forefathers revolved around agriculture and physical labour, feasting and rest for bountiful harvest for ten days and also forgiving each other during this time. Further, he shared concerns for the present generation and strongly urged the gathering to revive values and morals which had been practiced in the past. Longon emphasized on raising children on the right path, teaching mother tongue, to adopt and practice social ways of life as closely knitted society.

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The MLA also said that Khiamniungan Tribal Council is not just the members themselves alone but it represents every Khiamniungan and beyond under its motto ‘Protect and Love’. “This festival is about Forgiveness and Unity” Longon reiterated while stressing on protecting and reviving the International Trade Center (ITC) at Pangsha. The MLA also made his stand against the Government of India’s proposal to lift the Free Movement Regime (FMR) from the Indo-Myanmar border areas.

Later, Longon inspected the handicraft stalls at Public Ground, Noklak.

Guest of Honour, Keduosieü Metha, Director of Tourism, Government of Nagaland, expressed her happiness that though Noklak District is in its infancy stage, it seems to be going forward in many fields. She remarked that Noklak is at the border guarding Nagaland and that Noklak has the potential to become a tourism hotspot. Metha urged the people to preserve wildlife and maintain the ecosystem.

Highlighting the Khiamniungan’s talent of working with bamboo, canes and various fibres, Metha urged the youth to sustain and preserve these unique crafts and also gain economically from them.

The tourism director also extended her appreciation to the cultural troupes for taking an active part in the State Hornbill Festival 2023 in Kohima. She further urged the young generation to preserve culture in the form of documentations.

The highlight of the after event was the beautiful and synchronised cultural dances performed by Thsoiphu Village (men), Thang village (women) and Khiamniungan cultural club, Noklak town.

The later part of the celebration in the evening witnessed the first ever DJ night by guest artist DJ Rhon who was joined by various local artist.

The grand feast and merrymaking marking the end of Khaozaosei-Hok-Ah festival.

Earlier, the program was chaired by Pongsa Lamthew and Neochom Khiamniungan; Invocation was pronounced by Hempao, Executive Secretary, KBCA; Khaozaosei-Hok-Ah and its significance was delivered by S Ongchei, Head GB New Sanglao; special number by Jumie Lam; Greetings was delivered by Noklak DC Arikumba; Choklangan village performed folk fusion; Gratitude by Imkhong, Convenor, Planning; and benediction by Pastor Penglang, LBCNT (All photographs taken by PC Chai).