The beauty of Arunachal Pradesh
ABOUT TRIBES & BELIEFS
Bomdila
The culture of Arunachal Pradesh is truly varied in the sense that the state has 26 major tribes including sub-tribes. Every tribe has its own unique set of traditions and customs. The major tribes of Arunachal are Adi, Galo, Aka, Apatani, Nyishi, Tagins, Bori, and Bokar, etc.
The sun and the moon are the presiding deities of the major tribes who follow the Donyi-Polo religion (the name stands for sun and moon). The West Kameng and Tawang districts are mainly inhabited by the Tibetan-influenced Monpa and Sherdukpen tribes. In the Lohit district, it is the Khampti and the Singpho tribe. All these four major tribes are followers of two different sects of Buddhism (Mahayana Hinayana). The other tribes are basically followers of ancient beliefs with animal worship being quite prominent amongst them.
FESTIVALS
Arunachal’s cultural lifestyle is dominated by colorful festivals. Since agriculture is the mainstay here, people generally celebrate festivals as a mark of thanksgiving to the Almighty to give them a good harvest. These festivals also showcase the artistic skills of the various tribes. To experience the cultural festivals of the state, one should visit Ziro and Dambuk which are very popular for festivities.
The festival seasons are simply the best time to visit this culturally rich state as one has the opportunity to learn more about the diversity. There are many agricultural, religious and socio-cultural festivals where people dance, sing, pray, pay gratitude and make merry as a community.
Here are some major festivals celebrated in Arunachal
Siang River Festival
It is one of the most popular festivals in Arunachal Pradesh and is an attempt to promote eco-tourism and offer a lot of adventure fun activities like elephant race, traditional boat race, Didi – the mock war game of Mishmis, River rafting, Food Festivals, Folk dances, Cultural Shows, Hot air balloon & Paragliding and Exhibition of the local model house. Apart from this, an exhibition of handloom and handicrafts by the different districts is also held.
Pangsau Pass Winter Festival
This festival is celebrated in Nampong which is situated in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Pangsua Pass Winter Festival is a three-day fest that takes place in January each year. At this festival, the people of Arunachal Pradesh celebrate their extravagant ethnicity and perform folk dances and sing folk songs. Also, handicraft and handloom articles from different parts of the state are put up for exhibition. Along with displaying the variety of culture and tradition of Arunachal, PPWF offers a platform for the neighboring country of Myanmar to exhibit its culture as well.
Solung Festival
Solung is celebrated in the month of the monsoon. This 10 days festival is amongst the most famous festivals in North East India, especially celebrated by the Adi community in West Siang district, East Siang district, Lower Dibang Valley district, Upper Dibang Valley district, and Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The date for the festival is different each year and is decided by Kebang or the village council keeping the convenience of the villagers in mind and once the date is fixed the preparation of the local beer Apong starts. On the first day, the Indian Bison along with pigs are slaughtered in the early hours of the morning. On the second day, 1/3rd of the meat is distributed among the relatives; also, a grand dinner feast is arranged for neighbors, women, and children.
Nyokum Festival
Nyokum is the festival of the Nyishi tribe and is celebrated for the harmony and prosperity of the people. Nyokum Festival is celebrated on the 28th of February every year in East Kemang district, Lower Subansiri district, Kurung Kummey district and Papumpar district. The term Nyokum came from two words from the native dialect and can be broken as Nyok meaning Land and Kum meaning People.
Losar Festival
It is the festival of the Monpa tribe in Arunachal Pradesh and is celebrated to welcome a new year. Monpa is the dominating tribe of Tawang and West Kemang district; therefore, one can consider Losar as one of the major festivals here. Tawang is amongst the most popular tourist attractions in North East India and visiting it during the festival is indeed the ideal time.
Dree Festival
Celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm, Dree Festival is a crucial part of the Apatani tribe of the Lower Subansiri district. Ziro is the ideal place to see the celebration of Dree. During the festival, people sacrifice fowls, eggs, and animals to the Gods and pray to Tamu, Metii, Danyi and Harniang. Prayers are offered to God Tami so that he protects the plants from harmful pests and insects.
Loku Festival
Loku is the main festival of the Nocte Tribe of Tirap district and is celebrated to bid farewell to the winter. The term Loku came from two words from the local dialect – Lofe, which means to drive out and Rangku, which means the season. Loku or Chalo Loku is celebrated in the month of February and is considered an agriculture festival. The date of festival is decided by the elders and is according to the days of the waxing moon.
Sangken Festival
This is one of the most important religious festivals in Arunachal Pradesh and is celebrated on 14th February each year. It is mainly celebrated by the Khampti tribe of Lohit district; however, it is celebrated in entire Arunachal Pradesh. Sanken or Sangken is a three-day festival in which people bathe the idol of Buddha. The festival also marks the beginning of the New Year.
There are many other festivals that the people of Arunachal Pradesh celebrate throughout the year. These festivals also revolve around the successful harvest seasons, religious beliefs and socio-cultural norms.
LANGUAGE
In terms of linguistic diversity, the state has a unique position in Asia. Here people speak over 50 dialects and most of these come under the Tibeto-Burman language structure. Languages like Nyishi, Apatani, Bokar, Galo, Tagin, Adi which are widely spoken in Arunachal fall under the Tani dialect (a type of Tibeto-Burman language). However, in the eastern part of the state, the Mishmi language is widely spoken. Digaru, Idu, and Miju are considered endangered languages under the Mishmi language. In the west and the north, people speak the Bodic language which is sub-divided into two languages namely - Dakpa and Tshangla.
CUISINE
RICE
There are two types of rice that are cooked and that too in a unique style. The first one is called Dung Po and is cooked using two brass utensils, and the rice is wrapped in leaves before serving. It is believed that brass utensils add flavor to the cooked rice. The other variety is called Kholam and is cooked in a bamboo shoot tube filled with water. They both are served hot with traditional fish or meat curry.
Bamboo Shoots
From boiled vegetables to meat and from pickles to chutneys, every dish in Arunachal Pradesh is incomplete without a hint of bamboo shoots. The famous and traditional Bamboo Shoot dish involves cooking tender bamboo, marinated in baking soda and ground spices on a low flame. It’s a hot and crispy side dish that Arunachalis relish with every meal.
Momo
This is the most famous North-eastern dish that can be easily found in every part of the country. If you wish to taste the real authentic flavor, travel the state and explore the street-side varieties. Here, you also get a variety of fish momos.
Pasa
It is basically a soup that is made with fresh and raw fish. The addition of khumpatt leaves, ginger, garlic, makat, green chilli and minced meat paste makes it a sinful affair that locals relish during the winter season.
Chura Sabzi
This is a traditional curry made with fermented cheese. Interestingly, the cheese is made of yak’s milk and the magical addition to this dish is flakes and a few pieces of local chili that make it super spicy. Arunachal relish this curry with rice.
Apong
Apong is the local, light, and traditional rice beer of the state. It is made by drying, smoking, fermenting, and filtering the rice concoction and is easily available throughout the state. Traditionally, it is drunk out of a bamboo shoot.
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