A film, The Living Heritage of Arunachal: Beauty in Diversity was premiered at an event that showcases the intangible cultural heritage of indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh in Delhi Tuesday.
The film is one of the series of short documentary films produced as a part of a programme launched by the United States in December 2021 through the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation to work with tribe members from 39 villages across the state to preserve and document their heritage, the US Embassy said in a release.
Celebrating the intangible cultural heritage of indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the event also featured other films, performances, exhibitions, and demonstrations showcasing traditional culture of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the release stated.
During the event, the US Mission in India joined representatives from the Ministry of Tourism’s Northeast Regional Office and UNESCO’s International Information and Network for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific (ICHCAP) and launched a new website, www.arunachallivingheritage.com
"Safeguarding the cultural heritage of the communities is an essential and necessary requirement for sustainable development. In addition, documentation and video recording is becoming important as a means of education for future generations along with the development of technology. Through film, we can remember and preserve the lives and voices of our ancestors much better," ICHCAP Director General Jisung Kim said.
The event was held as a part of a series of Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav (India75) and US-India 75th anniversary celebrations organized by Kolkata-based non-profit Contact Base, in partnership with the Northeast Regional Office of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Local field research was made possible by the Arunachal Pradesh Department of Tourism, the release stated.
“As the United States and India celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, it’s important also to highlight the wealth of stories and experiences that come together to make our societies what they are today. The United States is proud to support Arunachal Pradesh’s culture, ensuring preservation of its intangible heritage,” US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Brian Heath said.
At the event, Contact Base representative Ananya Bhattacharya highlighted the ecological importance of the programme, stating, "Responsible tourism and technology provides wonderful opportunities to learn about carbon free lifestyles, engage with the tradition bearers who are indeed teachers of sustainability and in the process instill a sense of pride in the local communities with the encouragement to continue to transmit their intangible cultural heritage.
"It is envisaged that the project outputs will support the people to strengthen community led cultural tourism in the state."
