Nagaland Celebrates Its Vibrant Culture at Delhi’s Autumn Festival

The Autumn Festival 2025, conducted at Nagaland House in Delhi between October 24, provided a colorful presentation of Nagaland's rich cultural heritage, highlighting the state's music, dance, handicrafts, textiles, and food. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Nagaland, the festival was two days long and sought to immerse the visitors in the tradition, art, and culinary variety of the northeastern state, presenting a special cultural experience while further cementing relations between Nagaland and the national capital.

The festival was formally opened by Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, as he inaugurated the Artisans' Corner and traditional stalls featuring handicrafts made with one's own hands, Naga dress, and tribal cuisines made by tribal artisans. The inaugural ceremony had leading people's personalities, such as Union Minister Jitendra Singh, diplomats, and top government functionaries, thereby underscoring the importance of the event in facilitating cultural exchange. Mishra highlighted the increasing cultural affinity between Delhi and Nagaland, citing the fact that the festival reflects strong historical bonds. He suggested taking such cultural activities beyond Nagaland House to larger public spaces, such as Delhi University campuses and Central Park, to ensure more public participation. Further, Mishra said that the government was planning to join hands with the Delhi Tourism Department in making a special annual Naga Culture Festival to further institutionalize the celebration of Nagaland's cultural heritage in the national capital.

Nagaland Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along pointed out how the festival would enable Delhi citizens to experience the culture of the state firsthand. He called it a prelude to the 26th Hornbill Festival, to be held from December 1 to 10, which is the state's pride cultural festival that draws tourists from all over India and the globe. Along also spoke of efforts on to streamline the Inner Line Permit system for tourists to Nagaland, making it easier for people to visit the state. In addition, special helpline offices have been established at Nagaland Houses in Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati to help visitors, a testament to a united effort to open up tourism and offer logistical assistance to tourists keen on visiting the state.

Abu Metha, the chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagalah, emphasized the strategic value of the festival to enhance tourism and promote investment cooperation between Nagaland and Delhi. He pointed to the two-folds advantages of the event that not only promotes the state's cultural diversity but also provides avenues for economic interaction, commerce, and business possibilities. Through the gathering of artists, cultural performers, and government authorities, the festival offers a networking system coupled with cooperation, ultimately leading to Nagaland's economic and social growth.

The Autumn Festival 2025 was able to engage the audience in the colors of Nagaland's crafts, textiles, music, and cuisine, making it an interesting and learning experience. It acted as a bridge between Delhians and Nagalandis, strengthening national integration and projecting the cultural identity of the northeast onto a bigger platform. The festival represented the essence of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat in showcasing diversity and encouraging cultural knowledge transfer across cultures. With its exhibitions of performance, art, and cuisine, the festival emphasized the need to conserve and develop regional heritage while promoting tourism, investment, and exchange across cultures.

By putting tradition and contemporary presentation together, the festival not only commemorated Nagaland's diverse culture but also made the state an important player in India's cultural and economic environment. As travelers interacted with the music, dance, handicrafts, and culinary practices, the festival reinforced the importance of cultural exchange, public engagement, and consistent efforts in promoting regional identities in a globalized world. It created a precedent for subsequent events to promote the distinctive heritage of northeast India on national and international levels, thus raising consciousness and admiration towards Nagaland's contributions to the nation's cultural diversity.