KOHIMA, Nov 30 � Coinciding with Nagaland Statehood day, the week-long annual Hornbill Festival, mainly to promote tourism, will kick off tomorrow at Kisama Heritage Village near here.
The festival, a window to Nagaland, will be formally inaugurated by Governor Nikhil Kumar at the permanent venue of the heritage village, 12 km south of this capital town.
The week-long extravaganza showcases both traditional and modern aspects of Naga life and culture.
The event would add certain new features, including a day-long conference on India�s Look East policy since Nagaland borders Myanmar, Tourism and Culture commissioner and secretary Himato Zhimomi informed.
On the second day of the festival, an Indo-Myanmar Conference under the theme �NE bridgehead between Myanmar and India� would be held here where around 15 MPs and MLAs from the neighbouring country are participating in the deliberation, being jointly organised by the State Government and the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
According to Directorate of Tourism, over 2,000 foreigners visited Nagaland in 2011 and out of them 1,000 came here during the festival.
The theme of this year�s festival is �unity� where many events are being organised where the people from other NE States would also participate.
National Hornbill Rock Contest, which offers highest prize money in the country, would begin from December 4 at Indira Gandhi stadium. � PTI
