DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia attends Hornbill Festival
Union Minister for Communications and DoNER Jyotiraditya M. Scindia participated in the globally acclaimed Hornbill Festival on Saturday, marking a vibrant celebration of Nagaland’s tribal heritage, cultural diversity and artistic traditions. The visit formed part of his three-day tour to the state.
Speaking at the Kisama Heritage Village, the Minister highlighted the growing global footprint of the festival, noting that Switzerland, Ireland and the United Kingdom have joined as official partner countries for Hornbill 2025 – a first for the event. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East policy for transforming the Northeast into “India’s first frontier to the world”.
Scindia emphasised his personal connection with Nagaland and praised the state’s 17 tribes for preserving their unique cultural identity. “Hornbill reflects the essence of Nagaland’s living heritage. The Prime Minister’s focus on cultural diplomacy, connectivity and tourism has given this festival global visibility,” he said.
This year’s festival offered an expansive mix of cultural and contemporary showcases – traditional dances, village walks, handloom exhibitions, indigenous games, culinary experiences and the famed Hornbill International Rock Contest – while ensuring that community voices remained at the centre of the celebrations.
Scindia engaged extensively with local artisans, entrepreneurs and cultural practitioners. At the Regional Craft and Resource Centre in Touphema Village, he interacted with women artisans, observed basket weaving, witnessed the crafting of the Naga Dao, and even played the traditional TaTi instrument alongside local musicians.
The Minister also visited a coffee farm where he sampled local produce and interacted with young coffee entrepreneurs. He later toured morungs of the Angami, Chakhesang and Konyak communities and met women weavers at the Hornbill handicraft market.
Earlier in the day, Scindia joined the Angami stone-pulling ceremony in Tuophema Village – a ritual symbolising unity and collective strength. Calling it a profound cultural experience, he said such traditions reflect the resilience and values of Naga society.
In a major announcement during the visit, the Union Minister unveiled a development package of nearly ₹650 crore under the Ministry of DoNER’s ‘Act East, Act Fast, Act First’ framework. This includes inaugurations worth over ₹202 crore and foundation stones for projects totalling more than ₹443 crore.
The projects span healthcare, education, sports, innovation, power and key road corridors – forming part of a broader effort to strengthen connectivity and economic opportunities in the state.
Scindia said that infrastructure growth in the Northeast has accelerated significantly under PM Modi’s leadership. “From airports and highways to telecom and cross-border connectivity, development is progressing at unprecedented speed. With nearly ₹650 crore sanctioned for Nagaland alone, we are working with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to deliver a future that matches the aspirations of the people,” he said.
He added that the Northeast – described by the Prime Minister as the Ashta Lakshmi of India – is now among the country’s fastest-growing regions, driven by a young and enterprising population. Coordination between the Centre and the State, he said, will continue to advance the next set of development projects already in the pipeline.
