The Tikhir tribe, who made their debut at the Hornbill Festival in 2023, is once again participating in the 25th Hornbill Festival in 2024, celebrated at Kisama Heritage Village, Kohima. In 2023, the tribe was officially recognized as one of the major tribes in Nagaland, an achievement that the Tikhir community holds with great pride. The Tikhirs are predominantly from Shamator district.

The recognition has brought a sense of pride and unity to the Tikhir people, with the whole community feeling honored to be part of the festival each year. Vikhianthong Francis from Tikhir community explained that the Hornbill Festival has significantly boosted the Tikhir community, giving them a platform to showcase their cultural heritage and traditions.

Last year, the cultural troupe representing the Tikhir Tribe came from Phokpur village and this year, the cultural group is from Anatongre village, further highlighting the diverse representation within the tribe.

Francis said that the number of attendees from the community has also increased significantly, with not only the cultural groups but also representatives from various Tikhir organizations attending the 25th Hornbill Festival. He expressed that the community looks forward to participating in the festival as long as it is organized, and after returning home, they plan to share their experiences and lessons learned from interacting with other tribes.

By Meribeni T Kikon and Shongmo Shiu