Pasighat, Mar 17: In a significant boost to educational and sports infrastructure in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Monday inaugurated the newly constructed school auditorium and football stadium at Independent Golden Jubilee Govt Higher Secondary School (IGJGHSS), Pasighat.
Developed under the IGJGHS School Heritage Redevelopment Project by the Pasighat Smart City Development Corporation Ltd, these state-of-the-art facilities reaffirm the government’s commitment to foster holistic development for students.
The school auditorium is designed to host cultural events, academic discussions, and community engagements, while the football stadium provides a dedicated space for students to excel in sports, promoting fitness and holistic development.
Later, the Deputy CM attended the Unying A:ran Spring Carnival at Gi:di Notko, Pasighat, as the chief guest. The festival showcased Arunachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage, featuring the unveiling of the Na:nyi Me:té portrait & ritual Taku-Tabat and the mega Yakjong dance, Tapu dance, symbolizing unity and cultural pride.
Addressing the gathering, Mein lauded the festival’s theme, ‘No Hunting,’ emphasizing the urgent need for wildlife protection and environmental conservation.
He praised the Adi community for transforming Unying A:ran from a traditional hunting festival into a movement for ecological preservation, urging collective responsibility to protect biodiversity for future generations.
He added that this year’s Unying A:ran is not just a cultural celebration, it is a call to action for wildlife protection and environmental conservation. “We must bring back the lost fauna and flora of our state to attract tourists, rejuvenate forests, and make Arunachal Pradesh a thriving home for diverse wildlife,” he stated.
Mein commended the Unying A:ran Celebration Committee (UACC) for their pledge to curb killing and hunting of wild animals & birds, emphasizing the importance of stopping wild meat consumption to discourage illegal hunting.
Education and Tourism Minister P D Sona also lauded the festival committee for their call to protect and preserve the wildlife. He said that we, the society as a whole, must come forward to protect our Mother Nature and rich flora & fauna. He further said that “we must not only stop hunting but also stop consuming the wild meat so that nobody hunts it anymore.”
On the occasion, Sona also stressed for documentation of rich cultural and folk traditions.
Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao gave a clarion call for protection of biodiversity and wildlife, and urged for shunning wildlife hunting, while noting that “our precious wildlife is on the verge of extinction unless immediate conservation efforts are initiated”.
Gao also pitched for revival of traditional crops cultivated by our ancestors, which, he lamented, was a dying practice adding that today the world is waking up to the nutritional values of our traditional crops, which have immense economic value.
Director NEZCC, Dr Prasanna Gogoi spoke on the role of NEZCC in protecting and preserving the intangible tribal culture and traditions of the NE region and suggested a ‘Pan-Arunachal Signature Festival’.
State Convenor - Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Sentila T Yanger said that the cultural diversity of North East and the country enriches cultural vibrancy and exchanges.
Besides delivering the keynote address, the mythology of the festival was read out by Tobom Dai, spokesperson UACC. Aside from demonstration of the traditional stilt walking by young children, mystical Tapu dance, folk dances of diverse cultural troupes from NE displaying a spectacle of heritage and unity were other highlights of the celebration.
The event was also graced by MLAs Tapi Darang, Oken Tayeng, Tojir Kadu, Oni Panyang, Ninong Ering, Talem Taboh, and Puinnyo Apum, and other dignitaries. The evening concluded with a drama directed by Sangeet Natak Academy member Delong Padung, delivering a powerful message on wildlife conservation.