Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday announced the Indigenous Faith Youth Festival would henceforth be held every two years instead of three, with the next edition scheduled for 2028.
He also announced the revival of the Kameng River Festival from this year with financial support from the state government to promote East Kameng’s tourism potential and showcase its rich cultural heritage.
Addressing the inaugural function of the eighth Indigenous Faith Youth Festival at Seppa in East Kameng district, organised by the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh , Khandu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting indigenous faiths, traditions and cultural identity. He encouraged faith leaders and community organisations to undertake discussions and research-based initiatives to strengthen their traditions, assuring government support. More than 1,000 delegates from across the state are participating in the festival, an official statement said. The chief minister said the Department of Indigenous Affairs, established in 2016-17, would be further strengthened and its budget allocation enhanced in the forthcoming revised estimates to expand its activities and reach more young people.
On promoting indigenous culture, he said six Gurukuls were functioning in the state and assured continued government support, including improvements in roads, water supply and electricity. Khandu said the preservation of indigenous faith could not depend on legislation alone but required personal commitment from individuals and communities. Referring to the research and documentation work undertaken by the RIWATCH Institute on the traditions of the Mishmi community, he said discussions were also underway on a proposal to establish an international tribal learning centre or university in the state.
