15
Apr
The tranquil grounds of Namsai's Golden Pagoda (Kongmu Kham) come alive for the three-day International Maha Sangken Festival, which has its origins in Tai-Khamti Buddhist traditions and ushers in the traditional New Year. The day began with the spiritually significant reenactment of the "Descent of Lord Buddha to Earth at Dawn" at the Golden Pagoda and Parayatti Sasana Vihara. After that, devotees and guests marched from the Entry Gate to the Festival Stage in a serene and graceful procession that signaled the official start of the festivities. Thousands of people, including dignitaries, members of the local community, and foreign visitors,…