Inside Kachari morung or hut visitors take photographs and outside the morung visitors are seen eating the traditional Kachari cuisines during the Hornbill Festival at Naga Heritage village, Nagaland.

As winter slowly penetrates the hilly state of Nagaland, in North East India, a festive mood seeps into the valleys.

There is a buzz in the air. This is the sound of Nagaland preparing for the Hornbill Festival held in the first week of December every year.

The Festival is named after a bird greatly admired by the Naga people for its alertness and grandeur. The bird, the hornbill is mentioned in much of the folklore of Nagaland.

The festival takes place at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, not too far from Kohima. The village is a microcosm of each of the Naga tribes. Tourists are welcomed warmly to the traditional huts of each tribe, where one can sit with the elderly people of the tribe and share stories. Each morung or tribal hut, houses that particular tribe's own cuisine with the ever-present rice beer being sold to visitors as well. Even though the elders do not speak English, the younger members of the tribe can act as translators. The Hornbill Festival offers a window to the great, age-old culture and traditions of Nagaland.

The Nagas, traditionally known for their kind and friendly manner open their lives every year in an attempt to showcase the best the region has to offer. Comprising of seventeen different tribes, all differentiated by their traditional attire, food and folk dances, demonstrate their rich culture and traditions at the Hornbill Festival.

The festival attracts a large number of tourists, and has become larger and more popular over the years. Due to its popularity, the Tourism Department of Nagaland has made the decision to extend the Hornbill Festival by three days from 2013 onwards and it now takes place from 1stthrough to the 10thof December annually. This not only offers tourists a long, peaceful visit to the region but also the opportunity to better understand the uniqueness of the Naga people.

Various types of meats, in all forms, whether roasted, dried or smoked are available in traditional Naga style. The ultimate in Naga cuisine is traditional rice-beer; this is a must for all visitors. The night bazaar is a big hit with families, friends and visitors alike -- where all kinds of Naga traditional crafts, food items, stationary and of course Naga King chilli pickle can be found. The bamboo pavilion is made entirely of bamboo and is the main souvenir shop. It completes the Naga package.

Another event, true to the region was the traditional stone pulling ceremony of the Angami tribe. The ceremony was the first of its kind in recent years. Many gathered, both young and old, dressed in traditional attire to take part in the ceremony which brought the highway to a standstill for the duration of the ceremony. Females from the village lead the ceremony, carrying Naga basketsfilled with nourishment for the stone pullers as well as with the local rice beer. Several highly placed individuals attended --the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and Speaker Chotisuh Sazo to name but a few. The ceremony concluded with victory dances and a community feast.

Various competitions take place during the Hornbill Festival. They range from Naga wrestling, chilly eating competitions -- with the fiery King Chilli! The Pork eating competition, meat kicking, the traditional fire making competition, greased pole climbing, and for the younger ones The Kids Carnival. Footloose, a competition to spot the latest stars in music and dance was held for the first time in 2013 and the International Hornbill Rock Contest created a platform for many artists and musicians.

An initiative was taken to preserve this rich cultural heritage of the Nagas, to bring unity among the various tribes and to boast tourism in the region, and so the Hornbill festival was born.

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