The Manau Festival spans countries, history and people. The ethnic community in Kachin state in northern Burma and in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, in neighbouring India, share the same revered culture and tradition.

Kachins also known as Singpho in Arunachal Pradesh state, Northeast India are in the midst of preparing for the heady celebrations of the 26th Shapawng Yawng Manau Festival from February 13 to 15, 2010.

Thousands of native Kachins in Arunachal Pradesh and from Burma joined last year’s 25th Manau dance festival, the largest cultural symbol for Kachin ethnic people.

There are tens of thousands of Singpho living in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam state in Northeast India, with over 90 percent being followers of Buddhism. However, Kachins in Burma are predominantly Christians.

“We hope this time more people will attend the festival,” said a Manau Committee member in Arunachal Pradesh.

Last year at the celebrations of the 25th anniversary as well as the silver jubilee of the Manau Festival, more than 10,000 people including about 40 Kachins from Burma participated in the grand events, said the member of the Manau Committee.

“We are expecting more than 100 people (Kachin) from Burma,” said, the committee member, who did not wish to be named, because he is not authorized to speak to the Press.

Transportation difficulties and acquiring permission from the authorities of both countries to cross the border gate, is creating obstacles for the Kachin ethnic people of the two countries to come together despite the geographical, historical and cultural closeness between Arunachal Pradesh and Kachin State.