Sinlung /
07 December 2010

Kids’ Fest Runaway Hit in Hornbill

Members of Chang Naga community dress as warriors to perform at the annual Hornbill Festival at the Naga Heritage village on the outskirts of Kohima on Monday. (PTI)

Kohima, Dec 7 : The Kids Carnival, a part of the Hornbill Festival 2010, has been attracting scores of children at the Naga Heritage village, Kisama, during the past few days.

Started in 2009, Kids Carnival was the brainchild of Kevilezo Kense and Kevitsu Doze from Synergy Group Enterprises. Despite running into losses last year, the two young men were not deterred, and this year, they have managed to hire a giant Ferris wheel from Guwahati, attracting more children at the carnival. A fancy show, singing, drawing/painting, essay and dance competitions were the some of the contests organised at the carnival this year.

Seeing the children’s response during last year’s Hornbill Festival, the tourism department felt the need for a proper children’s park and the hillock, which is the current carnival site, was converted into an attractive park, spending an amount of Rs 2.5 crore, Kevilezo said.

The government, through the tourism department, has also been supporting and encouraging the Synergy Group Enterprises by extending financial assistance, said Doze.

Synergy Group Enterprises, which comprises a team of event managers specialising in a variety of events, is also managing the 30 Thai groups currently attending the Hornbill Festival 2010.

With event management picking up gradually in Nagaland, the organisers said they were hopeful that young Nagas would get the opportunity for full-time employment, if more local events were outsourced to event management groups.

Kense also asked for more inputs and feedback from the public, so that the Kids Carnival concept could be improved in coming years, incorporating the likes and dislikes of the children.

A Naga king chilly-eating competition was also held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama. The Naga chilly is one of the hottest chillies in the world. The festival officials said it is officially called Naga king chilly and is registered with the department of horticulture, government of Nagaland.

A total of 11 participants took part in the competition, which was also attended by parliamentary secretary for tourism, law and justice, Yitachu as the chief patron.

James Angami, who ate eight Naga chillies, was declared the winner of the competition and walked away with a cash prize of Rs 10,000, while Neluyi Chakhesang and H. Pukhu Khiamniungan ate five and four chillies respectively.

Dr Throshe and his medical team gave first aid to the participants. Director, horticulture department, Joseph gave away the prizes.

The chilly-eating competition was organised and conducted by XL group.

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