Nathan from Australia won the Naga chilli eating competition in the tourist category on Saturday.
The Naga chilli eating competition is a part of the Hornbill Festival organised at the Heritage Village in Kisama near Kohima.
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According to media reports, in the local category of the competition, Moba Chang from Tuensang district emerged as the winner.
Chang won the competition by eating seven Naga chillies in 20 seconds.
He defeated Akho from Phek district who ate five chillies.
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Akho was the last year’s winner of the Naga chilli eating competition.
Nathan from Australia won the Naga chilly eating competition at #kisama #nagaheritagevillage #Kohima on the 7th December 2019.#HornbillFestival2019 #ekbharatshreshthabharat @mygovindia @Hkhehoviy @MmhonlumoKikon @tournagaland17
Video courtesy- @dipr_nagaland pic.twitter.com/TDuu8pMMvr— MyGov Nagaland (@MyGovNagaland) December 7, 2019
In the tourist category, Tapan from Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, won the competition last year by eating six chillies.
The competition was introduced in the 11th edition of the Hornbill Festival in 2010.
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According to media reports, four doctors from the Kohima-based Oking hospital were assigned to keep a check on the health conditions of the participants in the competition.
Before the completion, the participants have to undergo a checking by the assigned doctors.
Naga chilli or Raja Mircha is an indigenous crop of Nagaland, which is believed to have originated from the Zeliangrong area of Nagaland and is extensively grown in Peren, Mon, Kohima and Dimapur.
The Naga chilli was Nagaland’s first crop which received the GI tag and is one of the hottest known chillies in the world.
The chilli has an appealing aroma and is consumed as a food item in every Naga household.
Owing to its pungency and alluring aroma, the Naga chilli has always invoked curiosity and awe amongst the people especially, from those outside the state.
In order to give an opportunity to the visitors to have a tête-à-tête up close and personal with the Naga chilli, the department of horticulture sponsors the Naga chilli eating competition every year coinciding with the Hornbill Festival.