KOHIMA: One of the biggest festivals of the country, the Hornbill Festival , will be held at Kisama from December 1 to 10 "We are expecting more than two lakh tourists, both domestic and international, for the mega event," parliamentary secretary, tourism, C Apok Jamir said.The festival, which brings together all the Naga tribes, was conceptualized by the state government in 2000 as the 'festival of festivals'. The opening day coincides with Naga Statehood Day."The festival has become a national one and a unique platform for tourists to experience the cultural diversity of the state," tourism secretary Angau I Thou said.A host of VVIPs, including US ambassador to India Richar Verma, Lok Sabha MP Pappu Yadav and his wife, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal , chief justice of the Gauhati high court, justice Ajit Singh, tourism secretary Vinod Zutshi, AOC in charge of EAC Air Marshall C Hari Kumar and CEO of Niti Aayog Amitabh Kant , have confirmed that they will attend the festival.This year, the Hornbill International Music Festival will be held in two venues Dimapur and Kohima."Twenty bands from all over the country will take part in the International Hornbill Music Rock Contest 2016," G Chishi, project director of the Music Task Force, said.Dimapur will host the festival on the first three days at the DDSC Stadium, where Hornbill Bollywood Dhamaka, Nagaland Bands and Kailash Kher will perform. December 4 onwards, the venue will shift to Kohima's Hockey Ground, IG Stadium.The main arena will host cultural troupes from all tribes. While lively songs and dances will enliven the arena, an archival exhibition will showcase original documents from public and private records, rare historical and geographical maps, newspaper clippings and rare books, and departmental publications.