US presence gives 'global' tag to Tawang Festival

ITANAGAR: The Tawang festival, now in its fifth year, marked itself as a truly global event with US ambassador to India Richard Varma being in attendance on the inaugural day on Friday. America's official presence in Tawang, a sensitive district in Arunachal Pradesh which is claimed by China as its own, did not go unnoticed.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who inaugurated the three-day festival on Friday, said Verma's presence in Tawang would ensure that American president Barack Obama hears about the festival which aims to show the cultural richness of the Buddhist Monpa-dominated district.
"The festival is known not only among Indians, it is known throughout the world," he was quoted as having said, an official report said here on Saturday. Sonowal also appreciated his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu for his 'global vision' and for making the effort to make the festival known all over the world. "That is why your chief minister has extended an invitation to the US ambassador," Sonowal told a gathering at the festival ground.
The festival began with the Sebang, a religious procession of monks from Tawang Monastery to the festival ground. The arrival of the chief guest and dignitaries to the festival ground was followed by the inauguration of traditional games and exhibition stalls. Eighteen stalls have been set up; the Monpa stall from Mukto and Lumla demonstrated the process of making handmade paper and shengmar-akhmar, respectively. tnn