Putao (Myanmar), Feb 7: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein today while attending the sacred 'Poi KongmuLoung Chow Kaang-kham' festival here in the Kachin State of Myanmar expressed gratitude to the Government of Myanmar for allowing a large Buddhist cultural delegation from Arunachal Pradesh to participate.
Mein was speaking at the cultural event held to felicitate the guests from India and Thailand and in the course of the visit also met the Deputy Director of the Government of Putao Region U Thant Zin over dinner on Thursday and conveyed his gratitude for allowing entry of devotees and pilgrims from India in spite of it being a restricted area. Terming the visit as historic, DCM said such gesture will deepen the socio-cultural relations between people living across the borders which share common beliefs, languages, culture and social structure. He further opined that India's Act East Policy is on the lines of improving people-to-people contact which is designed for furthering socio-cultural relations, trade ties, tourism and developing overall economic scenario of the South East Asian region through outreach initiatives. He reiterated that North East region is the gateway to ASEAN countries and emphasized on reopening of the Stilwell or Ledo Road which will ease travel and cut distance for people living on both sides. 

Mein appreciated the rapid development that has taken place in tourism and infrastructure in Putao region since his last visit some 14 years before and expressed delight to know that connectivity with North East gets prominence in the 'North East Region Vision Document 2020' of the Myanmar government. He expressed hope that opening up of trade routes would expand economic opportunities in the region and accelerate growth which would be beneficial to both sides. Zin said he was overwhelmed by the presence of devotees and cultural delegates from India and would be happy to offer further assistance for a pleasant and convenient stay at Putao. Appreciating Mein’s views, he assured to convey the DCM’s message to the higher authorities for further perusal.  
The festival is being celebrated to pay annual homage to the 2320-year old pagoda which is believed to house the relics of Lord Buddha from an earlier incarnation as Kaang-kham (Golden Deer). It is widely believed that paying obeisance at this pagoda fulfils one’s wishes. Earlier, Mein along with the Chairman of Parliament Kachin State U Tun Tin, Kachin State Minister for Ethnic Affairs U Sai Sein Lin, Putao District Administrator Thant Zin inaugurated the festival. Mein also inaugurated a newly constructed Stupa made of stones called ‘Peace Pagoda’.
The festival was inaugurated on February 5 and will conclude on February 8 coinciding with the auspicious full-moon day of the lunar month when Maiko Sum-fai will also be celebrated. Minister PHE & WS and DoTCL Wangki Lowang and MLA Namsai Chow Zingnu Namchoom accompanied the DCM. DCM Media Cell

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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