Sangken Festival Celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh

ITANAGAR: The Theravada Buddhist Society of Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh organised their Sangken festival from April 14 to 16 in the state capital.

The Sangken festival signifies new beginnings, love, compassion and thankfulness. And water is used as a means for spreading joy during this festival. Devout Buddhists celebrated this festival through a series of traditional rituals. One of them includes pouring water on the statues of Lord Buddha. The people also sprinkle water on one another during this festival.

According to their belief, water has a purifying power and cleanses away all negativity and ushers in renewed energy, positivity and harmony.

This festival coincides with the New Year on several calendars. It is celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh and some parts of Assam and coincides with the Assamese New Year. The Khamti, Singpho, Khamyang and Tangsa tribes of Arunachal Pradesh celebrate the Sangken festival in the state. In Assam, the Tai Phake, Tai Aiton and Tai Turung communities celebrate Sangken.

Sangken is generally celebrated in the month of Nuean Ha which is the fifth month of the year of the Tai lunisolar calendar and coincides with the month of April of the Gregorian calendar.

One of the main attractions of the festival is splashing clean water, which is taken as the symbol for peace and purity in the culture. The images and statues of the Buddha are taken out and given a ceremonial bath. It is then taken out on a procession which is accompanied by traditional horns and drums.

The holy bath of the Buddha is the most auspicious event of the whole celebration that goes on for three days. Local people also make and distribute homemade sweets and other delicacies during this festival. The exchange of gifts is another ritual during the annual Sangken festival.

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