Pasighat, Mar 17: The Unying Aran Spring Festival was celebrated with an emphasis on conservation and cultural preservation, with leaders and experts highlighting the need to protect biodiversity and uphold traditional practices.
Education and tourism minister PD Sona commended the festival's focus on wildlife conservation while maintaining cultural traditions. He praised the organizers for promoting symbolic gifting as an alternative to customary wildlife hunting practices, calling it a significant step toward conservation efforts. He also stressed the importance of documenting Arunachal Pradesh's diverse folk traditions for future generations.
Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal East, Tapir Gao, urged the community to take stronger measures in biodiversity conservation, warning that many wildlife species are on the verge of extinction. He called for a revival of traditional crops that were once cultivated by indigenous communities, noting their high nutritional and economic value in global markets.
Director of the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Ministry of Culture, Prasanna Gogoi, spoke on the role of NEZCC in safeguarding intangible tribal heritage and suggested a pan-Arunachal signature festival to showcase the state’s rich cultural traditions.
State convenor of the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture, Sentila T Yanger, emphasized the cultural diversity of the Northeast and the significance of preserving traditional knowledge. She expressed hope that such festivals would inspire younger generations to value and sustain their heritage.
The festival featured various cultural performances, including mystical Tapu dances, folk dances from Northeast India, and traditional stilt walking demonstrations by children.
Organizing secretary Tobom Dai provided a historical perspective on the mythology of Unying Aran, while the president of the Unying Aran Spring Carnival, Dr Tajom Tasung, outlined the event’s objectives.
The celebrations highlighted the importance of cultural preservation and sustainable practices, reinforcing the connection between Arunachal Pradesh’s heritage and conservation efforts.
