In Arunachal Pradesh, the fifth Tawang festival started at historic Tawang town yesterday. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal declared the three day festival open in presence of the US Ambassador to India Richard Verma.<br/>Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu, chief patron of the Tawang festival, said that Assam and Arunachal has maintained deep cultural ties from ages. <br/><br/>US Ambassador to India Richard Verma thanked the people of Arunachal and especially Tawang for inviting him, on behalf of American people and US President. He said the US – India relation is all time high and the country is looking towards India to work together in the field of tourism and technology.<br/><br/>The festival began with Sebang, a religious procession carried out by monks from Tawang monastery to the festival ground. 18 exhibition stalls were set up, amongst which Monpa stall from Mukto and Lumla demonstrated the process of handmade paper.