Arunachal Pradesh opens doors to India’s first Sunrise Festival at Dong Valley
Sunrise Festival
A long-term vision rooted in the ‘leave no trace’ principle, the festival aims to create meaningful opportunities for local entrepreneurs, encourage responsible tourism practices and support the growth of small businesses in the region.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday inaugurated the five-day Sunrise Festival at Dong Valley in Anjaw district, underscoring its role in promoting sustainable tourism and strengthening local entrepreneurship. Conceived with a long-term vision rooted in the ‘leave no trace’ principle, the festival aims to create meaningful opportunities for local entrepreneurs, encourage responsible tourism practices and support the growth of small businesses in the region.
In a recent post on X, the Chief Minister said the festival has been conceived with a long-term vision to create meaningful livelihood opportunities for local communities while encouraging responsible tourism practices. He also expressed that the festival aims to grow steadily over the years while adhering strictly to the principle of 'leave no trash, leave no trace'.
The Sunrise Festival celebrates Dong Valley’s unique identity by inviting visitors to witness the first rays of the sun as they touch Indian soil. The 2025–26 edition is envisioned as a vibrant coming together of communities, artists, explorers, scholars and travellers from across India and around the world, marking new beginnings from the land where the nation’s day begins.
Spanning five days, the festival represents a significant initiative to position Arunachal Pradesh as a global destination for nature, culture, adventure, heritage and sun-led New Year celebrations. Located in the remote Anjaw district at the tri-junction of India, China and Myanmar, Dong holds immense geographical, cultural and strategic importance.
The valley is home to the indigenous Meyor tribe, a small community known for its close connection with nature and simple way of life. Dong Valley symbolises India’s first dawn at the easternmost edge of the country, both in a literal and metaphorical sense.
