Plan your trip · Kohima
What's on in Kohima
Kohima's calendar is set by Naga festivals and the church year. Hornbill in early December is the big one, but the Angami festival of Sekrenyi and Christmas matter just as much to the people who live here.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Kohima right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Kohima
Kohima's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar and Apr – Jun is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Signature to Kohima
Hornbill Festival
🗓️ 1–10 DecemberAll of Nagaland's tribes at Kisama — dance, music and food, in one place.
Planning: The single busiest week in the state; permits, flights and rooms all need booking early.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Hornbill Festival, 1–10 December
The state government started the Hornbill Festival in 2000 to bring all of Nagaland's tribes together in one place. It is named after the hornbill, a bird that appears in the stories of most Naga tribes. The main venue is Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km south of Kohima, where each tribe has its own morung. Through the day, troupes perform dances and songs in full dress. There are also craft and food stalls, traditional games, Naga wrestling and a king chilli eating contest. In the evenings, the Hornbill music festival has usually held concerts and a rock contest in town.
Planning for Hornbill
This is the busiest time of the year in Nagaland. Book rooms early, apply for your Inner Line Permit a few weeks ahead, and arrange a taxi to Kisama in advance for each day. Foreign visitors should check the permit rules on the state ILP portal; in 2025 the Protected Area Permit was relaxed only for the ten festival days. Evenings at Kisama are cold, and traffic on the road back to town is slow after the last show.
Sekrenyi, February
Sekrenyi is the main festival of the Angami, the tribe of Kohima and the villages around it. It usually starts around 25 February and lasts about ten days in the villages. It is a festival of purification and renewal, with ritual washing, feasting and songs. Christian Angami usually join in the songs and feasting but not the old rituals. Visitors may be welcome in some villages, but go with a local guide or host, and follow their lead.
Christmas and New Year
Most people in Kohima are Christian, and Christmas is the high point of the year. Churches hold carol services, streets and houses are lit, and families gather. Many shops and restaurants close on Christmas Day and the day after, so plan meals ahead.
Other Naga festivals
Each tribe has its own festivals, mostly in its home district. The Ao celebrate Moatsü in early May, around Mokokchung, and the Konyak celebrate Aoleang in early April, around Mon. Check dates with the district before you travel.
Festivals from elsewhere in India
Diwali, Holi and other national festivals are kept by Kohima's smaller Hindu community, but they are quiet here compared with the rest of India.
Questions
Kohima — FAQ
When is the Hornbill Festival?
It runs from 1 to 10 December every year. The main events are at Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km south of Kohima.
Can visitors attend Sekrenyi?
Some villages welcome respectful visitors, but it is a community festival, not a show. Go with a local guide or host, ask before taking photos, and do not join rituals unless you are invited.
What is Kohima like at Christmas?
Busy with church services, carols and family visits, with lights across the town. Many shops and restaurants close on Christmas Day, so plan your meals ahead.
Are Diwali and Holi celebrated in Kohima?
Yes, by the Hindu community, but on a small scale. They do not change much for visitors, unlike Hornbill or Christmas.