| Staff reporter |
Itanagar, Nov 23: The Organising Committee of the Chalo Loku Festival here on Sunday appealed to the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO), Indigenous Youth Force of Arunachal Pradesh (IYFA) and the All Naharlagun Youth Organisation (ANYO) to defer their proposed bandh scheduled for November 25 in view of the celebration of the traditional Chalo Loku Festival.
The committee stated that Chalo Loku is a sacred and unifying festival that brings together elders, youth, and families from across the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) and nearby districts including Tirap. Chalo Loku is observed annually on November 25 and is officially listed as a local holiday by the State Government.
According to the committee, calling a bandh on the same day may disrupt the smooth conduct of the festival, cause hardship to participants travelling from distant areas, and undermine the spirit of unity and harmony associated with the occasion.
While acknowledging the concerns that led to the bandh call, the committee has urged the organisations to defer their agitation in the broader interest of cultural dignity, public peace, and community participation. It further appealed to all stakeholders to resolve issues through dialogue and cooperation, ensuring that both cultural traditions and social concerns are respected.