Dong, which is the northeastern-most village of Arunachal Pradesh, will welcome India’s first Sunrise of the New Year with a seven-day long Sunrise festival beginning from December 29 to January 2.

The five-day-long festival is being organized as a community event to celebrate the arrival of a new year and establish Arunachal Pradesh as a destination of culture, nature, and adventure tourism.

Organizers said that the festival is expected to witness the presence of artists, explorers, scholars, and foreign as well as domestic tourists in large numbers from different states of India and other foreign nations as well.The aim of this event is to create awareness about the special geographical position and cultural riches of Arunachal Pradesh in a way that would leave minimal or near-zero ecological footprints.

It is located in the Anjaw district and is close to the India-China-Myanmar three-way point and is well-known as the first village where the sun rises. Its remoteness amid breathtaking natural scenery of snow-capped mountains, ever-green pine trees, and the nearby Lohit river, and the fact that it houses the Meyor tribe members, have made it a favorite destination for adventurers looking for a non-typical tourist spot.

The activities scheduled in this festival program would include activities ranging from a diverse set; these would include community-driven activities related to the aspect of nature. There would be sunrise rituals, performances by the different indigenous communities found in Arunachal Pradesh, nature walks, water activities, eco-camping, village visits, and photography expeditions.

There would also be activities like workshops, folk art, crafts, and food preparations done by the different village communities, which would enable all visitors to partake in the experiences related to the different foods.

According to the organisers, the Sunshine Festival has sustainability at the core of what it does. The festival will operate under a rigorous sustainability charter with the slogan “No Trash, No Trace, No Excuses” in line with sustainable tourism campaigns. There will be a sunrise pledge on January 1st where everyone will be required to take an oath to respect the environment and cultures and reduce waste while traveling.

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu stated that the festival best represents the unique locational significance of Dong and thereby provides a chance for tourists to witness the meeting of nature and adventure at this point. According to the Chief Minister, this venture not only provides tourists a chance to visit Arunachal Pradesh but also provides a sustainable means of livelihood for the people living there.

According to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, the festival signifies the major plans of the state regarding ecotourism for the benefit of the citizens as it protects Arunachal Pradesh’s natural environments.According to officials, the goal of the Sunrise Festival is to become a featured event in the Northeast, which focuses on the natural beauty of the land, diversity of culture, and support for sustainable tourism practices.

The plan is to keep the communities in mind when conducting the event in order to achieve sustainable growth in tourism. Dong is located approximately seven kilometers from Walong, in the left bank of the Lohit River. Though the village is quite inaccessible, the arrangement for the travelers is being upgraded. The nearest airport is at Tezu, 200 kilometers from the village, and the closest railway station to Dong village is at Tinsukia, inside Assam, which is 300 kilometers from the village.

The visitors need to undertake a long road trip from these halts, which is said to be responsible for the adventure attached to the destination. Since it revolves around the first sunrise of the year, the sharing with the society, and the respect for the environment, the Sunshine Festival at Dong is poised to provide a different Welcome to the New Year while putting Arunachal Pradesh prominently within the tourism map of both the country and international communities.

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