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8/15/2019 Thegreenerpastures.com-festivals of Arunachal Pradesh

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The Dree Festival involves the sacrifice of fowls, eggs and animals to the Gods. The gods worshipped during this

festival are Tamu, Metii , Danyi and Harniang . The festival is celebrated to appease these Gods so as to avoid

famine in the society. This festival is a part of the Apatanis in Arunachal Pradesh. The Apatanis, reside in a valley

called Ziro. Ziro is located at the Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. The Apatanis are famous for the

practice of wet rice cultivation. The Apatanis had invented the wet rice cultivation without using any form of scientific

technologies and methods. Rice is the staple food of the Apatanis. The festival falls during the month of July each

year and this festival is connected with the cultivation of rice.

During the Dree festival every household prepares the local beer “ Apong ” and performs cleaning of houses and its

surroundings. The head priest (Nyibu) acts as a leader of these celebrations and rituals. The spot for the festival is

decided by the priest and the elderly people of the village. The people follow the existing belief of choosing a place

of worship near to a paddy field. The spot for the festival is decorated with branded bamboos. The god Danyi is

prayed for protection and prosperity of the mankind. Tamu is prayed to protect the plants from harmful pests and

insects. Metii is prayed for controlling of famine and epidemics. Harniang is prayed for keeping the soil stable, and

preventing the paddy plants from getting dried.

Solung Festival

The ‘Solung' is celebrated by the ‘ Adi' community. Adi’s belong to the agricultural community and thus this festival is

connected with the agricultural activities of the people. Various myths, stories, and beliefs are associated with the

origin of the ‘Solung' festival.

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Solung is celebrated in the mid-part of the year in the monsoon month of July/August. The date of celebration of this

festival is on different days of these months depending upon different villages. But, the final date of the festival is

decided by the Kebang or the village council keeping the convenience of the village people in mind. Sometimes,

even the headman can also fix the date of this festival along with village leader's consent. Once the date is fixed,

rice-beer or ‘ Apong' preparation starts. The people start storing fresh vegetables for the occasion.

The Solung festival continues for 7 days and on the first day, the Indian Bison along with pigs are slaughtered in the

early hours of the morning. A family can sacrifice depending upon their financial capability. Apong is prepared in

plenty and offered on the day of slaughter. Meats of all the slaughtered animals are preserved for the rest of the dayof the festival.

The second day of the festival is known as ‘Yegling' . On this particular day 1/3 rd of the preserved meat is distribute

among the relatives. A grand dinner feast is arranged for neighbours, women and children. Apong , however is

prepared on all the days of the Solung festival. Any one of the inmates of the family goes to the field on the fourth

day and sacrifices a fowl. A woman or a girl generally offers the Etting and Apong along with the sacrifice. This day

is called as ‘Oinnyad' .

Reh Festival

Reh, one of the most important festivals of the Idus, is celebrated during the month of February. The inhabitants of

the Talo, Amru, and Dri villages of the Dibang valley celebrate it during summer and monsoon. The climate is

moderate during this time. In the other parts, the Idus celebrate the same during February to May. The Idus people

believe that NanyiInyitaya is their mother and they can only get her blessings only when they perform the Puja or

celebrate the Reh festival. The festival starts with the sacrifice of buffaloes for offering to the great mother

NanyiInyitaya. Relatives are gifted with money and pigs. The festival is very expensive, thus people start with all the

arrangements and preparations four or five years before the actual celebration. Any such person who wants to

celebrate this festival takes a local system called as Ada. The system involves the collection of pigs, cash, money

etc. After completion of Ada, a tentative year is fixed, which is generally one year ahead of the actual celebration.

'Yunyiphri' - the rice beer preparation, is undertaken three to four months before the actual celebration. The festivalis celebrated for 6 consecutive days and the first day is called Andropu. This day is observed by offering prayers fo

the festival to pass on without any obstacles. The people do Naya dance during the night. The second day is the

killing day of animals like mithuns and buffaloes. All the guests who attend this festival are entertained with rice,

meat and beer. The third day is called Iyili . On this particular day a heavy feast is arranged and everybody is

entertained. Villagers who do not attend this festival are presented with meal-rice.

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