Anini: The fifth edition of Anini Winter Fest has added another vibrant colour to the town’s growing presence on the tourism map, Arunachal Pradesh urban affairs minister Balo Raja said on Saturday.Addressing the gathering at the festival’s inaugural ceremony, Raja praised the local organising committee for taking the event into its fifth edition. He also lauded Anini MLA and tourism minister’s adviser Mopi Mihu for his guidance and leadership in motivating the youth of Dibang Valley.Mihu, in his address, praised the organising team’s dedication and urged it to continue nurturing the event into a premier mountain festival.Set against the mist-clad mountains and pristine landscapes of Dibang Valley, the two-day carnival features music, high-altitude adventure and indigenous heritage.Organised by local youth collectives with support from Arunachal tourism and the district administration, the festival showcases the customs and traditions of the Idu Mishmi tribe through traditional art, dance and indigenous cuisine.The festival also features folk and indie music concerts by regional and national artistes, along with white-water rafting on Dibang river, jungle treks along ancestral hunting trails, ATV rides through the valley and eco-friendly camping under pollution-free night skies.Designed around sustainable eco-tourism practices, the event aims to position Dibang Valley as an offbeat wilderness destination in the northeast.The inaugural ceremony was attended by Dibang Valley zilla parishad chairperson Sadhu Mihu, Dibang Valley deputy commissioner Yashwant Meena, SP James K Lego, heads of departments, panchayat leaders and members of the public.
