The Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday shared an article by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, projecting the annual cultural celebration as a powerful symbol of India’s civilisational depth and the Northeast’s growing centrality in the country’s development narrative.
In a post on X, the PMO said the article describes the Hornbill Festival as a “kaleidoscope of the human spirit” and a rare blend of ancient traditions and contemporary expression.
It reiterated that India’s rise is intrinsically linked to the progress and prominence of the Northeast.
The PMO further underlined the region’s significance, describing the Northeast as the face of a new and confident India.
Nagaland, it said, does not merely observe festivals but lives celebration itself, a distinction that has earned it the title of the “Land of Festivals”.
In his article, Scindia wrote that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision has placed the Northeast at the forefront of India’s growth journey by unlocking its economic strength and human potential.
He said the Hornbill Festival gives this transformation a cultural voice, demonstrating that sustainable development is strongest when rooted in identity.
Elaborating on the spirit of the festival, the Union Minister said Nagaland’s natural wealth, spiritual traditions, sporting culture, skills, ecotourism, cuisine and artistic vibrancy are not abstract ideas but lived realities.
He described the Hornbill Festival at Kisama as a meeting point of tradition and modernity, where days echoed with the songs and dances of the 17 Naga tribes while evenings reflected contemporary cultural expressions.
Scindia noted that the festival’s energy was particularly evident during the Hornbill International Rock Contest, which attracted bands from across India and overseas, adding a global dimension to the celebrations.
Highlighting the Prime Minister’s leadership, he said the ‘Act East’ policy has opened up nearly 10 billion dollars in ASEAN trade corridors, positioning Nagaland as a strategic gateway in the region’s growth story.
He observed that this progress goes beyond infrastructure, describing it as lifelines that have contributed to the region’s GDP quadrupling since 2014.
At a time when countries across the world are re-emphasising cultural identity, Scindia wrote that the Hornbill Festival stands out as a model of unity rooted in tradition.
He added that it reflects the Prime Minister’s vision of “Vikas bhi, virasat bhi”, capturing India’s development path where heritage and growth move forward together.
