Arunachal celebrates India’s first sunrise of 2026 with ‘Dance of the Dawn’

Dong, India’s easternmost village in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, welcomed the first sunrise of 2026 on Thursday (January 1, 2026) with “Alo Prabhat: Dance of the Dawn”, a performance drawn from the cultural traits of the indigenous Meyor and Mishmi communities.

The performance was part of the inaugural Sunrise Festival organised by the State’s Tourism Department at Dong, the first human habitation to receive the first rays of the sun in India. The festival began on December 29, 2025, and concludes on Friday (January 2, 2026).

According to the organisers, ‘Dance of the Dawn’ was an artistic narrative presented through chants, songs, and indigenous rhythms produced using traditional musical instruments, combined with contemporary dance and poetry that extolled the radiance of the sun and the spirit of the Dong Valley and its people – the Meyors and the Mishmis.

The immersive narrative of hope, harmony, and peace featured award-winning filmmaker Shilpika Bordoloi and theatre personality Sattyakee D’com Bhuyan, the organisers said. A highlight of the day was a Sunrise Pledge for collaborative cultural exchanges.

“Dance of the Dawn is more than an event; it is a celebration of our shared humanity, bringing together communities, artists, and visitors from across the world to witness the magic of India’s first sunrise,” an official statement said.

Declaring the festival open three days ago, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the initiative was conceptualised to generate meaningful livelihood opportunities for local communities, while promoting responsible and eco-friendly tourism. He hoped that the festival would serve as a vital platform for local entrepreneurs and small businesses by showcasing the region’s unique natural beauty and cultural wealth.