Pangsau Pass International Festival 2026: Honouring History, Celebrating Heritage, Strengthening Bonds
The Pangsau Pass International Festival (PPIF) 2026 was held from 20th to 22nd January 2026 at Nampong, Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming the historic importance of the region and its role as a cultural and strategic gateway between India, Myanmar and South East Asian countries. The festival brought together remembrance, cultural celebration, and cross-border cooperation against the backdrop of the Pangsau Pass, once a critical wartime corridor and today a symbol of peace and friendship.
This year’s edition carried special significance with the 80th-anniversary commemoration of World War II, highlighting the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre of the War (1942–1945) and the historic Stilwell (Ledo) Road, which played a crucial role in Allied logistics during the conflict.
World War II Commemoration and Vintage Willys Jeep Rally
A key highlight of the festival was the Vintage Willys Jeep Rally, organised along the historic Old Ledo Road from Namsai to Pangsau Pass. The rally featured classic Willys Jeeps, iconic vehicles of World War II symbolising endurance, engineering excellence, and wartime mobility across rugged terrain.
The rally passed through important World War II landmarks including Lalpul Bridge, Hamilton Bridge, Hell Gate, and other stretches of the Old Ledo Road, retracing routes once used to sustain Allied supply lines under extremely challenging conditions.
Inauguration of World War II Memorials
On the concluding day of the festival, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein inaugurated the World War II Cemetery at Jairampur and unveiled the “Wall of the Forgotten Theater – World War II”, paying homage to soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the war. He also visited the upgraded World War II Museum, which documents the region’s wartime history and the contribution of local communities.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the historic Pangsau Pass, once a lifeline during wartime, today stands as a symbol of peace, friendship, and shared heritage. He emphasised the need to remember the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives and those whose contributions remained undocumented.
He further noted that indigenous communities of Arunachal Pradesh including Singphos, Tangsas, Tai Khamtis, Tikhaks, Adis, Noctes, and others played a vital role in the construction of the Stilwell Road as porters, guides, suppliers, and labourers, often working under extreme hardship. He called for efforts to identify and document the names of those who sacrificed their lives and display them in museums for future generations.
Tribute to Courage and Service
At the World War II Museum, homage was also paid to Sepoy Lamtu Tikhak of the 7th Assam Rifles, a brave soldier from Vintong village in Arunachal Pradesh, who served the nation with distinction during the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the 1965 Indo-Pak War, and laid down his life in the line of duty in 1967. His life and service were remembered as an enduring example of courage and commitment.
Cultural Exchange and Regional Unity
The Pangsau Pass International Festival continued its role as a major platform for cross-border cultural exchange between India and Myanmar, featuring traditional dances, indigenous sports, local cuisine, handicrafts, and cultural performances. The festival also provided opportunities for interaction with officials from the Republic of Myanmar, strengthening people-to-people ties across the border.
Highlighting the broader vision of the festival, the Deputy Chief Minister said that PPIF has emerged as a heritage festival for Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, with the potential to attract visitors from across the world as a destination for memory tourism. He also recalled the lesser-known contribution of elephants, guided by local mahouts, who supported wartime logistics by hauling supplies, constructing infrastructure, and rescuing vehicles during World War II.
Towards Connectivity and Tourism Development
The festival also highlighted ongoing efforts to promote border connectivity and regional development. The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated his advocacy for the reopening of the Old Ledo Road and the functionalisation of the Integrated Check Post at Pangsau Pass, aimed at boosting border trade and facilitating the movement of essential goods to remote border areas.
He further stated that initiatives such as the Vintage Willys Jeep Rally, Namsai–Pangsau Power Drive, development of World War II museums, and trekking routes to historic and aircraft crash sites are transforming Pangsau Pass into a hub of adventure, heritage, and experiential tourism, creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
A Festival Rooted in Remembrance and Progress
On the concluding day, the book “Tradition, Transformation and Identity – The Tikhak Tangsa of Arunachal Pradesh” by Dr. Jeevantu Tikhak was released, recognising the rich cultural traditions and evolving identity of the region’s indigenous communities.
The Pangsau Pass International Festival 2026 concluded with a renewed sense of shared history and cultural unity across borders. Once a strategic wartime corridor, Pangsau Pass today reflects the transformation of conflict into cooperation, remembrance into reconciliation, and heritage into opportunity. Through commemoration, cultural exchange, and community participation, the festival reaffirmed the enduring message that understanding the past is essential to building a future anchored in peace, partnership, and mutual respect.
Complementing the festival’s heritage and cultural programmes, a contemporary motorsport initiative added new energy to the celebrations.
From Historic Corridors to Modern Motorsport Experiences
Alongside the Pangsau Pass International Festival, the Namsai-Pangsau Power Drive 2026, held on 22–23 January, added a dynamic contemporary dimension to the celebrations at the historic Indo-Myanmar border region in Changlang district. The event marked a celebration of Arunachal Pradesh’s spectacular landscapes, historic connectivity, and spirit of progress, blending motorsport with culture and heritage.
Featuring Supercars, hypercars, and superbikes, the Power Drive transformed the legendary Pangsau Pass into a platform for precision driving, responsible motorsport, and experiential tourism. By bringing together cutting-edge automotive technology and timeless heritage, the event showcased how innovation can amplify regional identity while positioning Arunachal Pradesh as a destination for adventure and experiential tourism.
The two-day motorsports extravaganza concluded on a high-energy note in Namsai town on 23 January 2026, with thrilling Super Bike and High-Performance Car Autocross races drawing large crowds and turning the town centre into a vibrant motorsports arena. The concluding circuit, stretching from Gandhi Chowk through DC Chariali and looping back to Gandhi Chowk, hosted intense competition in both bike and car categories.
The successful conduct of the Namsai–Pangsau Power Drive 2026, alongside the Pangsau Pass International Festival, reinforced the region’s evolving identity where heritage meets innovation, remembrance meets movement, and culture meets contemporary experience further strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s profile as a destination for motorsports, adventure, and experiential tourism.
