Arunachal Pradesh has emerged as a major highlight at the 26th Hornbill Festival, participating as the event’s sole State Partner and presenting a vibrant showcase of its cultural heritage, traditional crafts and growing entrepreneurial sector at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama. The partnership has elevated the state’s cultural diplomacy while opening new avenues for regional cooperation, wider market access and sustainable tourism.
A dedicated Arunachal stall near the entrance of the Bamboo Pavilion has quickly become a major attraction for visitors, offering an insight into the state’s diverse artisanal traditions. House of Macnok is among the standout brands, featuring handcrafted products made by rural communities—particularly women and youth—who are reviving age-old craft practices by blending them with contemporary design.
Adding to the variety, C & C Organic & Handmade Pickle is drawing crowds with its preservative-free offerings rooted in the indigenous culinary techniques of the Nocte Hills in Tirap. Mistyball is showcasing aromatic tea blends sourced from the “Misty Fall Valley,” combining premium local leaves with traditional herbs and spices. KT Organic and Healthy Fruit, founded in 2022 in Ziro Valley, is also gaining attention for its organic fruit candies made from kiwi, plum, peach, pineapple and wild apple.
A women-led self-help group under the Idu Mishmi apex body is exhibiting GI-certified traditional textiles that preserve cultural identity while evolving with modern aesthetics. Women entrepreneurs from Siang Beverages are also attracting steady visitors with handcrafted rice-based brews made entirely from organic ingredients using traditional fermentation techniques.
Even as Arunachal’s pavilion continues to draw enthusiastic footfall, the festival’s broader cultural tapestry remains a major attraction. On Day 4, a unity performance by 18 Naga tribes mesmerised thousands of domestic and foreign visitors at the Unity Plaza. The event was hosted by Rural Development and SIRD Minister Metsubo Jamir and co-hosted by Agriculture Advisor Mhathung Yanthan, with Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh and Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (NER), Guwahati, Surabhi Varma Garg, attending as special guests.
One of the festival’s most talked-about personalities is Yungan Khampai Konyak, Nagaland’s tallest man at 6 feet 9 inches. The 24-year-old, dressed in traditional Konyak attire and weighing 120 kilograms, has become a crowd favourite, especially among visitors eager for selfies. Revered by the Konyak community as a “gift of God,” he remains one of the event’s most photographed figures.
The festival has also featured traditional competitions, including a horn-blowing contest at the Sumi Morung under the banner of Tribal Vision and the Department of Youth Resources and Sports. The 18th Hornbill International Naga Wrestling Championship, organised by the Nagaland Wrestling Association, was held at Kimipfüphe Local Ground in Kigwema, about three kilometres from Kisama.
According to the Tourism Department, the festival recorded 55,842 visitors as of Wednesday. This includes 987 foreign tourists, 13,811 domestic travellers and 41,044 local visitors. The opening day alone saw 22,508 participants, while Tuesday registered 18,010 arrivals, reaffirming the enduring appeal of Nagaland’s “Festival of Festivals.”
