Category: Art, Culture & Sports

Sangken is a major Buddhist festival of Arunachal Pradesh, celebrated with devotion and vibrant rituals. Images of Lord Buddha are taken out from shrines, ritually bathed and placed in Kyongfra, accompanied by drums and cymbals. Devotees gather in monasteries to offer prayers, sweets and food. The sprinkling of water among people symbolises purification, renewal and … Continue reading Sangken Festival of Arunachal Pradesh

Pongtu Kuh is the premier agricultural festival of the Tutsa community of Arunachal Pradesh, celebrated with great enthusiasm at Tutnu village in Tirap district. It marks the agrarian cycle and reflects the community’s cultural identity. The festival features traditional log drum performances and vibrant cultural programmes by local troupes and youth. It strengthens social unity … Continue reading Pongtu Kuh Festival of Arunachal Pradesh

Asha Bhosle, one of India’s most iconic playback singers, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital. Her career began with “Chala Chala Nav Bala” in the 1943 Marathi film Majha Bal, followed by her entry into Hindi cinema with “Saawan Aaya” in Chunariya (1948). She gained major recognition with Naya Daur (1957), where she sang for … Continue reading Asha Bhosle – Musical Legacy

The HSLC Examination 2026 conducted by the Assam State School Education Board recorded a pass percentage of 65.62%, with 2.81 lakh students clearing the exam out of over 4.29 lakh who appeared. This indicates that a significant proportion of students could not qualify, raising concerns about learning outcomes. District-wise performance shows regional disparities, with Dima … Continue reading HSLC Examination 2026 Results – Assam

Penguin Random House’s Modern Library imprint has acquired the World English rights to The Smell of Bamboo Blossoms, a collection of stories by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi. Originally written as Baah Phulor Goondh, the work will be translated into English by Aruni Kashyap, bringing the literary voices of Arunachal Pradesh to a global audience. APSC Relevance: … Continue reading The Smell of Bamboo Blossoms — Global Recognition

Mopin Festival is a major spring harvest festival of the Galo community in Arunachal Pradesh, celebrated annually from April 5 to 7. It is dedicated to Mopin Ane, the goddess believed to bless the people with prosperity, fertility and protection from evil. The festival features traditional Popir dance, community feasts and the ritual smearing of … Continue reading Mopin Festival — Galo Harvest Celebration

Johnson Rajkumar has been selected as the sole participant from India for the prestigious FIAF Film Restoration Summer School 2026 in Bologna, Italy, marking a major achievement for Manipur and India’s film preservation community. The programme, organised by International Federation of Film Archives, provides advanced training in photochemical and digital restoration techniques. It is conducted … Continue reading Johnson Rajkumar — Film Restoration Recognition

Meghalaya forms the backdrop of the upcoming romantic thriller Sundar Poonam, inspired by a real-life 2025 honeymoon murder case involving an Indore-based businessman. The film reflects the growing cinematic attention on Northeast India. Starring Sanya Malhotra and Aditya Rawal, and directed by Pulkit, the project is part of the Prime Video 2026 slate and has … Continue reading Meghalaya — Sundar Poonam Film

Iraq has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 2–1 victory over Bolivia, marking its return to the tournament after a 40-year gap. The team last appeared in the 1986 World Cup, also hosted in Mexico, where it exited in the group stage. This qualification is a significant milestone for Iraqi football, symbolising … Continue reading Iraq — Return to FIFA World Cup 2026

Patrick A Rogers, noted for his work on Meghalaya’s living root bridges, has passed away, marking a loss to cultural and ecological documentation of the Northeast. He initiated the Living Root Bridge Project to map and preserve these unique bio-engineered structures and authored The Green Unknown: Travels in the Khasi Hills, which brought global attention … Continue reading Patrick A. Rogers — Chronicler of Living Root Bridges

Kuladhar Saikia has taken charge as the editor of the Assamese literary magazine Gariyoshi, marking a notable development in Assam’s literary sphere. A Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer and former Director General of Police of Assam, he has authored numerous works including short story collections, plays, a novel and telefilms. His English collections such as If … Continue reading Gariyoshi Magazine — Kuladhar Saikia as Editor

Padma Viswanathan has been shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize for translating On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia. The novella, set in a remote penal colony, explores themes of power, justice and brutality through a stark narrative. The prize, worth £50,000, is shared equally between the author and translator. The … Continue reading International Booker Prize 2026 — Padma Viswanathan Shortlisted

Arunachal Pradesh is set to host its first-ever rhododendron carnival, Wu-Dong Mentoh Festival, on April 11–12 at Zermiteng in Khrimu village, Tawang district. The event celebrates the vibrant rhododendron blooms of the high-altitude region. The festival aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Monpa community, including the Brokpa tribe, while promoting eco-tourism in … Continue reading Wu-Dong Mentoh Festival — Rhododendron Carnival in Arunachal

Mann Ki Baat highlighted the traditional Morung system of the Naga community, where elders educate the youth through experiential learning rooted in culture and tradition. This system reflects the community’s strong commitment to preserving its heritage. In Morung, knowledge is passed through stories, folk songs and traditional games, teaching both life skills and cultural values. … Continue reading Mann Ki Baat — Morung Learning System of Nagas

Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh has contributed to the Gyan Bharatam Survey through the submission of Tai script manuscripts by Chao Nantisindh Lokang. This highlights the region’s rich manuscript tradition and cultural heritage. The Gyan Bharatam Survey, promoted through Mann Ki Baat, is a nationwide initiative encouraging citizens to document manuscripts via a digital app. Verified … Continue reading Namsai — Contribution to Gyan Bharatam Survey

Arundhati Roy has won the National Book Critics Circle Award in the autobiography category for her work Mother Mary Comes to Me, marking a significant recognition of her literary contribution. The awards also honoured a novel by Nobel laureate Han Kang and a major work on artificial intelligence by Karen Hao. These selections reflect the … Continue reading Roy — National Book Critics Circle Award Winner

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a new policy restricting transgender women and certain athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD) from competing in female categories at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games. The move aims to address concerns related to fairness and competitive balance in women’s sports. The decision has sparked … Continue reading IOC Policy on Gender Eligibility — Olympics 2028

Imnainla Jamir, a guitarist from Mokokchung, Nagaland, has been endorsed by the globally renowned Ibanez Guitars, becoming the first female artist from India associated with the brand. This marks a significant milestone for musicians from the Northeast. She gained national attention after her electric guitar performance of the Indian national anthem at the Hornbill Music … Continue reading Imnainla Jamir — First Female Ibanez India Artist

Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba marks the traditional New Year of the Meitei community in Manipur, celebrated on the first day of the month Sajibu (March–April). The festival signifies renewal, cultural identity and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. A key ritual involves climbing Cheiraoching Hill or nearby peaks, symbolising the aspiration for higher progress … Continue reading Sajibu Nongma Panba Cheiraoba — Meitei New Year Festival

RISA: Timeless Tribal is a premium national brand initiative aimed at promoting tribal textiles, embroidery and handicrafts in domestic and global markets while preserving India’s rich indigenous heritage. It focuses on enhancing visibility and value for traditional tribal craftsmanship. The initiative is under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and implemented by TRIFED. It includes diverse … Continue reading RISA: Timeless Tribal — Promoting Indigenous Crafts

Doraemon director Shibayama Tsutomu, a legendary figure in Japanese animation, has passed away at the age of 84. Known for his work on Doraemon and Lupin III, he was often regarded as the “Father of National Animation” in Japan. He directed the 1979 Doraemon television series and later led 22 feature films of the franchise, … Continue reading Doraemon Creator Shibayama Tsutomu — Death of Animation Pioneer

The Northeast India–Japan International Academic and Research Consortium brings together premier institutions such as NITs, IIITs, NERIST, AIIMS Guwahati, NERIWALM, Tezpur University, Gauhati University, Cotton University and Assam Engineering College. The initiative aligns with Japan’s strategic engagement with Northeast India under the MEXT Inter-University Exchange Project since 2022. The consortium aims to facilitate around 5,000 … Continue reading Northeast India–Japan Academic Consortium — Expanding Global Collaboration

₹1 crore has been crossed by the BAFTA award-winning film Boong on its re-release, making it the first Manipuri project to achieve this box office milestone. The film is directed by Lakshmipriya Devi. Boong received international recognition after winning the BAFTA Award for Best Children’s and Family Film at the ceremony held on 22 February … Continue reading ₹1 Crore Milestone — Manipuri Film Boong

Michael B. Jordan won the Best Actor award at the 98th Academy Awards for his performance in Sinners, marking the first Oscar of his career. He prevailed over strong contenders including Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another). In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley won for … Continue reading Michael B. Jordan — Best Actor at the 98th Academy Awards

Abo Tani is regarded as the legendary ancestor of several Tani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, including the Apatani, Mising, Adi, Galo, Tagin and Nyishi. These communities traditionally follow the Donyi–Polo faith and attribute the origin of wet rice cultivation techniques to Abo Tani. Reflecting this shared heritage, members of the Galo tribe of … Continue reading Abo Tani — Shared Ancestry of Tani Tribes

Crimson Spring, a novel by Navtej Sarna, has been honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 in the English category. The awards, presented by the Sahitya Akademi, recognise outstanding literary works across 24 Indian languages, celebrating India’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity. This recognition highlights the continued relevance of contemporary Indian writing in English and … Continue reading Crimson Spring — Sahitya Akademi Award 2025

Ka Poong Tai (also called Ka Pung) is a traditional dance-drama performed by the Tai Khamti community of Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam. The performance blends expressive dance movements with theatrical storytelling, reflecting the cultural and spiritual traditions of the community. The term combines “Ka” (dance) and “Pung” (drama or play). The performances often … Continue reading Ka Poong Tai — Traditional Dance-Drama of the Tai Khamti

Tikhir jewellery and Tikhir textile are among 24 products from Nagaland identified for Geographical Indication (GI) registration, highlighting the cultural and artisanal heritage of the region. These products originate from the Tikhir tribe, an indigenous Naga community primarily residing in the Kiphire and Shamator districts. Traditional weaving of Tikhir textiles is carried out using the … Continue reading Tikhir Jewellery & Textile — GI Recognition in Nagaland

Yaoshang, one of the most important festivals of Manipur, is celebrated by the Meitei community with the ceremonial burning of a structure made of straw and bamboo, marking the beginning of the festivities. The festival commenced on the full moon day of the Meitei lunar month of Lamta (February–March) and continues for five days. The … Continue reading Yaoshang Festival — Cultural Celebration in Manipur

Sanju Samson played a decisive role in guiding India to the semifinal of the ICC T20 World Cup with an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against the West Indies in Kolkata. However, he may face disciplinary action under the ICC Code of Conduct for throwing his helmet during the victory celebration. Article 2.2 of the … Continue reading ICC Code of Conduct — Level 1 Offence in Cricket

Arunachal Pradesh is exploring collaboration with Spotify India to promote indigenous music and provide global visibility to local artists. Leveraging digital streaming platforms can help document tribal musical traditions, create revenue avenues and integrate regional talent into the global creative economy. For Assam, this offers a strategic lesson. Structured partnerships with digital platforms can amplify … Continue reading Arunachal–Spotify Collaboration — Cultural Export Strategy

Mamang Dai will be conferred the honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) degree by Dibrugarh University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Indian English literature. A native of Arunachal Pradesh and belonging to the Adi community, her writings draw deeply from the oral traditions, folklore, history and landscapes of Northeast India, enriching contemporary literary discourse. … Continue reading Mamang Dai — Literary Recognition

Jammu & Kashmir created history by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title after defeating Karnataka at Hubballi, ending a 67-year wait for India’s premier domestic First-Class cricket championship. The team registered a dominant performance, securing victory with a massive 633-run lead, marking their first major success in domestic red-ball cricket and highlighting the growing sporting … Continue reading Ranji Trophy — Jammu & Kashmir’s Historic Victory