Dibrugarh: The air at the iconic Golden Pagoda in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh, was thick with festivity, prayer, and the joyful sound of splashing water on Wednesday, as thousands of devotees and revellers gathered to mark the International Maha Sangken Festival — popularly known as the Water Festival — one of the most vibrant and spiritually significant celebrations in the Buddhist calendar.
The three-day festival, which will run through April 16, drew massive crowds of Buddhist faithful from across the region and beyond, all converging at the revered Golden Pagoda — a spiritual landmark that stands as a symbol of peace and Buddhist heritage in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein graced the occasion as the chief guest.
“The Sangken festival is a reaffirmation of our shared values of peace, compassion, and brotherhood. It reminds us that water, as it cleanses the body, also has the power to cleanse the soul and bring communities together. Artists from Myanmar, Thailand, and our own Arunachal tribes are performing together,” said Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
The festival, rooted in ancient Theravada Buddhist traditions, is observed by the Tai-Khamti, Tai-Phake, and other Buddhist communities of Arunachal Pradesh to mark the New Year. The ritual sprinkling of water is believed to wash away sins and misfortunes from the previous year, ushering in prosperity and good health.
A major highlight of this year’s celebrations was the rich cultural showcase that accompanied the religious observances. Cultural troupes from Myanmar and Thailand — nations that share deep Buddhist ties with the region — performed traditional dances, drawing rousing applause from the audience.
Closer to home, tribal groups from across Arunachal Pradesh, including the Monpa community, presented colourful folk performances that reflected the extraordinary diversity of the state’s cultural tapestry.
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