Explore Arunachal
Siang River Festival
The Yomgo River Festival (Siang River Festival) is held to celebrate communal harmony within Arunachal. Earlier it was Brahmaputra Darshan Festival in Tezu and Pasighat but since 2005, it is happening in Tuting, Yingkiong and Pasighat.
It is one of the festivals in Arunachal that happens to promote eco-tourism. Lot of adventure activities like elephant race, boat race, mock war game of Mishmis, river rafting, food Festivals, folk dances, Hot air balloon, exhibition & Paragliding. An exhibition of handloom and handicrafts is also held.
Pangsau Pass Winter Festival
This is a modern day winter festival started in the year 2007 and gained a lot of enthusiasts. Pangsau Pass Festival happens in Nampong, inside Changlang of Arunachal. Pangsua Pass Winter Festival (PPWF) is a 3 day festival in January each year.
At this festival, the people of Arunachal celebrate their extravagant ethnicity. Folk dances, songs, articles like handicraft & handloom are for exhibition.
Along with displays of distinct cultures of Arunachal, PPWF offers a platform for Myanmar. Here Burmese people also exhibit its culture as well. The festival conjoins tribes of East and Myanmar, for showcasing rare culture or traditions to each other.
Sanken Festival
A religious festival celebrated on 14 th February each year by Khampti tribe of Lohit; however, it happens in entire Arunachal. Sanken or Sangken is a three-day festival in which people bathe the idol of Buddha. The festival is the beginning of NewYear.
On the first day of the festival prayers are offered for the well-being of all by beating drums and gongs. During this festival, people abstain from killing animals, taking intoxicating drinks and indulgence in illicit sexual activities. People also refrain from all forms of manual work, gambling & even cutting trees.
After cleansing rituals of the images of Buddha and holy shrines, people sprinkle clean water on each other and exchange greetings. On the final day, Buddha’s idol is installed at the main temple and a community feast follows after that ritual.