A powerful moment from this year’s renowned Hornbill Festival has captured widespread attention online. A video showing thousands of people—locals, tribal communities, tourists, and officials—standing together to sing the Indian national anthem has been widely shared for its emotional impact and strong message of collective pride.

The clip, recorded by traveller Satyajeet Dahiya, quickly became one of the most circulated visuals from the festival’s 2025 edition. Social media users praised the moment for its authenticity and the sense of unity reflected in the voices of the crowd.

A Moment That Moved an Entire Arena

The anthem was sung inside the main festival arena, where visitors from across the country had gathered to witness cultural showcases presented by 16 Naga tribes. Organisers described the atmosphere as “electric,” noting that many attendees were visibly emotional during the rendition. Several visitors later shared that standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people from varied backgrounds “felt like a reminder of what unity truly looks like.”

Hornbill Festival: A Cultural Bridge Since 2000

Held every December since the year 2000, the Hornbill Festival has grown into one of India’s largest cultural celebrations, drawing over one lakh visitors annually. It serves as a vibrant platform for the Northeast to share its heritage—ranging from traditional dances and crafts to indigenous music, cuisine, and community rituals—with the rest of India.

The festival’s core mission has long been to promote cultural exchange while strengthening ties between the Northeast and the national mainstream.

“A Bridge Across Narratives,” Say Tribal Leaders

Tribal leaders at the festival praised the mass anthem singing, calling it “a bridge across narratives” at a time when conversations about the Northeast often focus on distance or disconnect. They emphasized that moments like these demonstrate how regional identities and national identity can complement each other without conflict.

This year’s edition also featured collaborative inter-tribe performances, reinforcing an ongoing effort to highlight the region’s cultural richness as a key part of India’s larger cultural tapestry.

A Viral Example of Unity in Diversity

As the video continues to be widely shared, many online users have described it as a powerful representation of “unity in diversity”—a reminder of how collective experiences at cultural festivals can bring people together beyond geographical and social boundaries.

The stirring anthem moment has now become one of the defining highlights of the Hornbill Festival 2025, marking a renewed sense of connection and pride among participants and viewers across the country.