Pangsau festival under way on Myanmar border

She is not alone. About 200 delegates headed by a senior Junta official have come all the way from Myanmar to join the festival that got under way yesterday.

“This is a unique festival and I am happy to be a part of it,” an elated Tysa told this correspondent today. According to Tysa the festival has further cemented the old-age bond among the people living on both sides of the border.

The gesture shown by the Myanmar people has been widely appreciated in the festival and they were accorded a rousing welcome by the organizsers.

The three-day festival organized by the Arunachal Government is aimed at giving a boost to the ongoing border trade between North-east and Myanmar and launching a joint campaign in association with Myanmar for reopening of the Stilwell Road.

“ We have come here to join hands with the Indians to boost bilateral trade ,” Iyesou Aung, the senior official said. He also appealed to the North-east people to reciprocate by way of participating in the programmes in Myanmar.

The Pangsau Festival is generally celebrated after harvesting of crops. The people living on both sides of the border assemble at Nampong and celebrate the festival.

“Despite poor road connectivity in Myanmar, we have come here to meet the North-east people,” Shangar , a Myanmar national, said. He advocated involvement of both India and Myanmar to unite the people. Asked about the ongoing political turmoil in Myanmar, he refrained from giving any comment. “We are not allowed to speak in this regard,” he added.

Seno Sena, organising secretary of the festival told this correspondent that Pangsau Festival is aimed at bringing all the border people under one umbrella. “We have taken resolutions for reopening of the Stilwell Road and gearing up the Look East Policy,” Sena observed. He pointed out that in spite of having vast scope, this region is yet to reap the benefit of the Myanmar market. “The main reason is apparently due to poor road connectivity,” he said.

The three-day festival has witnessed a series of cultural programmes. To add more flavour to the festival, a special market has been organised by the Myanmarese people to showcase their ethnic products. Several ethnic groups of the region also exhibited their traditional dance programmes in the festival.

Though the Pangsau has been declared as a trade point with Myanmar, poor infrastructure has remained a major problem in the area.