5th Tawang Festival begins

From our correspondent

Itagar, Oct 27: Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday declared open the fifth edition of Tawang Festival at Tawang general ground in presence of NEC Secretary Ram Muivah, RWD Parliamentary Secretary Jambey Tashi, Tawang MLA Tsering Tashi and Tourism Secretary Dr Joram Beda.

This was followed by school children releasing hundreds of balloons in the air to mark the beginning of the four-day festivity.

Earlier, the chief minister iugurated the exhibition stalls where products from various government departments, NGOs and local community bodies were showcased.

The stalls have products from horticulture, agriculture, forest and textile departments. Local organisations also displayed their traditiol hand looms, traditiol paper making technique and local orments. The festival also has food stalls from different communities of the State.

The NEC secretary iugurated the traditiol games and sports competition. The competition will be held on local archery, weightlifting, shot put, tug of war, Thepi, Glangnyuri and Lei, an official release said.

In the morning, Khandu attended the street carnival show held at old market. The street show will be held for three days.

On the first day, Yak dance from villages of Khirmu, Mukto, Gyankhar, Bomdir, Gonkhar was displayed.

The first day of the evening cultural show will have special presentation from intertiol artists Tenzin Kunsel and Ani Choying Droma. The show will also have cultural presentation from Adi, Nyishi and Monpa tribe. Artists from Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts will also be presenting their cultural dances, the release added.