Like everything else, the iconic Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is expected to suffer due to the pandemic. As the government is still not allowing crowds to gather, holding a festival is not possible. The Nagaland Tourism department had initially asked its allied departments to prepare for the annual festival after which they recieved a lot of criticism. However, they later clarified to the local media that the state’s premier festival would be organised virtually this year from December 1.
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The Influx Of Tourists Could Mean Catastrophic
The opposition party Naga People’s Front (NPF) promptly reacted against celebration. The NPF also issued a statement coining the move of the opposition NDPP-BJP coalition government as a ‘suicidal mission’ the COVID-19 cases are spiking every day. The opposition party reminded the government that the virus could not be stopped from entering the state even when the total lockdown was imposed, so allowing people from outside would be inviting danger. The party also asked if it was even possible to conduct hornbill festival safely and if the government could assure the safety of participants. The influx of domestic tourists to the state could indeed prove catastrophic. Here are 5 Reasons Why You Need To Visit The Hornbill Festival In Nagaland
The Festival Would Have Been An Opportunity To Revive Tourism Sector
The Hornbill Festival has always been an opportunity for the state to revive its tourism sector. It has been an opportunity for the state to showcase their culture to the outside world. Did you know that Nagaland recorded a total of 2,82,811 visitors in the 2019 Hornbill Festival? Hornbill Festival At Nagaland Created A Record Of 2.69 Lakh Visitors.
However, the best part is that the celebration has not been cancelled. Even though it is happening virtually this year, it is going to be a people’s celebration. People from all across the country will be participating virtually, ensuring everyone’s safety.