Chinese Checkers: India's strategic message to Beijing with a road, port and fest in the east

On January 1, 2026, Arunachal Pradesh plans to host the Sunrise Festival in Dong village near the India-China-Myanmar border, featuring a mass Surya Namaskar event and cultural activities. This festival, approved during a state cabinet meeting held at a forward army post facing China, carries strategic significance as part of India’s effort to assert its presence near the eastern border.