The much-awaited festival, the Hornbill Festival began with a colourful blend of culture and tradition with a modern twist at Naga Heritage Kisama in Nagaland this evening. This is the 20th edition of Hornbill Festival. <br />''<br />''The festival organised by Nagaland Government is an annual tourism promotional event to showcase the state's traditional and rich cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur.<br />'' <br />'' <br />'' The 10 Days Hornbill Festival began with the traditional blessing pronounced by Mongtei of Aniashu village while the Chief host and Host opened the festival by beating the traditional gong.  Nagaland Governor R N Ravi was the chief host of the festival, while Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was the host. Addressing the opening ceremony, Governor RN Ravi said it is convenient that the Hornbill Festival coincides with Nagaland Statehood Day. <br />'' <br />'' Ravi expressed happiness to witness the Naga people coming together and uniting through their cultures and urged the people to uphold the enormous richness on their culture and traditions which has been passed down to them by their ancestors. The Governor called on the people to strengthen the spirit of unity during the Hornbill Festival. Highlights of the ceremony include a colourful display of Naga Culture themed as "Colours of Nagaland.  <br />'' <br />'' A display of Sukhoi aircraft flying over Kisama site was also organised in close coordination between the state government and headquarter, Eastern Air  Command (IAF) Shillong. Various inaugurations of stalls put up at Kisama also marked the opening day. Highlights of the Hornbill Festival will witness cultural performance of different tribes of Nagaland and Northeastern States, indigenous games, city tour, night carnival, art exhibition, photo-fest and many more. <br />''  <br />