[ Prem Chetry ]
BOMDILA/TOKYO, 3 Oct: The Aney-Na folk dance of the Aka tribe of West Kameng district represented India for the first time at the Namaste India Festival, 2025. The performance earned immense appreciation during the festival, which concluded on Friday at the India pavilion of the World Expo in Osaka, Japan.
The 12-member cultural troupe, led by District Art & Culture Officer Ajay Sidasow, expressed pride in representing the nation. “It was an honour for us to showcase our tradition and culture on foreign soil at this event of cultural exchange between the two nations,” Sidasow said.
He added, “We are thankful to the Ministry of External Affairs for giving us this opportunity to present our folk dance on various stages in Japan. This event has inspired us to preserve our culture and tradition in their purest form, without compromising in the face of modernity.”
The troupe’s performances were widely appreciated for highlighting India’s rich cultural heritage, with special emphasis on the unique traditions of Arunachal Pradesh.
The group performed at several venues, including Yoyogi Park, VCC auditorium, Eol, Kudan Minami (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), Nakasato U-Mall multipurpose pop-up stage (Tokamachi, Niigata), multipurpose pop-up stage (Expo, Osaka), and the India pavilion at the World Expo, Osaka from 27 September and 3 October. The group was sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs.
