US Embassy in India Documents Tribal Heritage of Arunachal

NEW DELHI (ANI) – As US and India celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations and as part of ‘Azaadi ki Amrit Mahotsav‘, the United States Mission in India launched a website at an event here to celebrate the intangible cultural heritage of the indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The website was launched by US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Brian Heath, who said the 3000-year-old cultural and lifestyle traditions of indigenous tribes in Northeast India, preserve key aspects of India’s rich culture, society, and history and it is important to highlight the wealth of stories and experiences that come together to make the societies what they are today.

“While I have not had the pleasure of visiting the state yet, I certainly hope to do so during my time in India. It is heartwarming to see the natural wonder of the state intertwine with the centuries-old traditions of the indigenous tribes, connecting lifestyles and spirituality with nature. It is a reminder of how indigenous people have the knowledge and practices needed to implement and scale-up climate action,” said Heath.

Arunachal Pradesh has been hailed in tourism brochures and in official quarters as a ‘zero-waste state,’ making it a desirous tourist destination.

Last year, the US launched a program through the Ambassador’s fund for cultural preservation to work with tribals from 39 villages across the state to preserve and document their heritage through a series of short documentary films.