Arunachal's Dong Village to Host First Ever Sunrise Festival from New Year

Starting January 2026, Arunachal Pradesh’s Dong village will transform its famed ‘first sunrise’ experience into a festival to promote tourism.

The remote village of Dong in Arunachal Pradesh, known as the first place in India to witness the sunrise, is set to host a first-of-its-kind Sunrise Festival, starting January 1. Nestled at an altitude of 4,000 feet near Kibithu, India’s easternmost point along the Line of Actual Control with Tibet, Dong is poised to become a major tourism draw with this new initiative.

Approved by the state government, the Sunrise Festival aims to offer a curated, expert-managed experience that captures the magic of the country’s first sunrise each year. The festival is envisioned as a self-sustaining model and will be supported by state infrastructure development to accommodate the expected influx of visitors.

The five-day celebration will begin with the first sunrise of the New Year and feature cultural showcases, local cuisine, traditional crafts, and guided treks to vantage points offering breathtaking views of the early dawn.

The idea of celebrating the sunrise at Dong traces back to January 1, 2000, when people from across India and abroad gathered in the village to witness the first sunrise of the new millennium. Since then, Dong, home to just nine households of the Meyor tribe, has continued to attract attention for its unique geographic distinction.

Officials hope the Sunrise Festival will highlight Dong’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and strategic location while providing sustainable economic opportunities for local communities. The initiative marks a significant step in promoting high-altitude, experiential tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.

With preparations underway and interest building, Dong is expected to draw adventurers, nature lovers, and cultural enthusiasts eager to greet the first light of 2026 in the lap of the eastern Himalayas.