Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Dec 1: Along with traditional cultural presentations, the fervent call for preservation and promotion of indigenous faith, rich cultural heritage and unique traditions of the land marked the Indigenous Faith Day celebration across Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday. On the occasion, the indigenous faith believers also remembered ‘Golgi Bote’ Talom Rukbo – the pioneer of indigenous faith movement in Arunachal Pradesh.
Attending the Indigenous Faith Day celebration at Namsai organized by the Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), Namsai unit, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said, “Language and culture is our identity and we must zealously protect and promote our language & culture.
“We must strive to revive and promote our folk songs and indigenous music. We must preserve them either in written documents or in audio-visual format too,” he added.
While noting that a cultural revolution is going on to keep alive indigenous cultures & traditions, Mein said, “Our Govt will continue to support IFCSAP in their endeavours for preservation and promotion of our rich cultures & traditions”.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang, attending the Indigenous Faith Day celebration at Rono General Ground, Doimukh, said, “Preserving one’s indigenous faith, rich cultural heritage & unique traditions must be our priority”.
While asserting that freedom of religion doesn’t mean to convert people to other faiths, Libang said, there is no any right given for conversion in fundamental rights of the Indian Constitution.
Arunachal Pradesh has the largest ethnic group in India and people of the state are still following their respective culture, tradition and faith, he said and appealed to all to maintain their own traditional culture and faith, and not to convert to other’s faith.
Thunbui Zeliang, general secretary, Zeliangrong Heraka Association, Nagaland said that though a maximum of indigenous people of Nagaland have converted but still the indigenous people are trying to protect their tradition, culture and faith.
But as compared to Nagaland, the traditions and culture in Arunachal Pradesh are still ‘alive’, he said and appealed to the Arunachalis to protect and preserve their tradition, culture and identity before it’s too late, he said.
IFCSAP president Katung Wahge demanded the state government for early implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978, and re-naming of the Indigenous Affairs Department as Department of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Affairs (DIFCA) as its real name, while stating that government should not afraid to do the right thing because the department was created to protect the indigenous people of state.
At the Namsai event, identity cards issued by the Dept of Indigenous Affairs were distributed to the priests. Among others, Advisor to CM, Tapen Siga, Advisor to IFCSAP (Namsai Unit), Tape Bagra, IFCSAP vice-president Bai Taba, IFCSAP (Namsai unit) president Chau Khok Longchot and Namsai DC C R Khampa also spoke on the occasion.
State Assembly Speaker P D Sona while attending the Indigenous Faith Day celebration at Tato in Shi-Yomi district called for maintaining originality and preserving one’s tradition and culture.
Addressing the gathering, Sona exhorted the people to maintain and preserve age-old culture and tradition. “One should maintain the originality such as language, attire, tradition & culture which reflects the real identity,” he said.
"Your identity is connected with culture. You should maintain your identity by preserving your culture," asserted Sona.
He said, we are lucky that unlike many other places in the world where indigenous faith is on the verge of extinction, people of Arunachal Pradesh have maintained it well. He further said that language, song, dance and traditional attire not only help in preserving one's identity but also boost rural tourism.
“The indigenous faith of Arunachalis is not a religion but Dharma,” said Advisor to Chief Minister, Tai Tagak, while attending the Indigenous Faith Day celebration at Raga in Kamle district.
…The tribal people praise the Sun & Moon Gods that provide everything to all living things and 30% of world tribal populations are living in India which is a good indication that India protects the cultural ethos of tribal people well, he said.
Tagak urged upon the people to do good karma to other fellow beings, wildlife and karma of conservation of air, water and ecological balance and that karma will come back to self-wellness. We should praise Mother Nature, preserve the rivers & streams' catchment areas, maintain afforestation and preserve wildlife for our own survival as water bodies are receding due to carelessness, he said.
Niri Chongrowju, Member, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said that while maintaining & preserving the tribal faith, belief, traditions and culture, the protection of child rights, particularly the rights of girl child must be maintained by all sections of the society.
The indigenous faith believers in Lohit district also celebrated the day with much fanfare.
The celebrations began with a cultural procession by believers from tribes residing in the district. The procession was preceded by a band display by VKV students.
Later, the participants gathered at Amik Ringya Hall, where various cultural programs were held and identity cards issued to priest/shamans of the Tawra and Kaman Mishmis.
Speaking on the occasion, local MLA Karikho Kri stressed the need for cultural documentation in order to stop the language and culture from being extinct. He also highlighted the need to evolve with time, to bring positive changes with time. He asked the priests and shamans to play the leading role in these changing times.
While remembering late Talom Rukbo – the pioneer of indigenous faith movement in Arunachal, IFCSAP Lohit district unit president Ambrelum Gamre stressed on the need to preserve the cultural traditions for the future.
Lohit DC Shashvat Sourabh informed that during his previous tenure as DC Upper Siang, a tribal museum and a video were being made with full contribution by the local people, and added, a similar initiative can also be done by the local CBOs, NGOs here. Stating that youths are the future of the society, he said all the elders, CBOs, NGOs should help to assimilate those youths who have fallen in the path of the evils like drug menace.
The Indigenous Faith Day was also celebrated at Pasighat with great enthusiasm. Apart from the members of Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang, a large number of Donyi Polo believers from different districts of Arunachal and neighbouring Assam congregated at the Pasighat Central Gangging to celebrate the day with religious fervor. They also took out a cultural procession in the township. The day-long programme began with the hoisting of Donyi Polo flag and congregational prayer followed by cultural presentations and community feast.
ZIRO: Like the recently conceptualized local Gurukul school at Seppa which teaches the cultural ethos and practices blended with modern NCERT English education to young high school students, we need more such Gurukuls in our districts to educate our young generation with value-based education comprising both tribal and modern education, said local MLA and Agriculture Minister Tage Taki here today.
Attending the Indigenous Faith Day celebration at the DanyiPillo ground, Hapoli as chief guest, Taki said such local Gurukuls will play pivotal role in educating the younger generation of their traditional values, ethos, culture, social practices and local dialects blended with modern English education which will give a sound foundation to a student to be realistic in life and rooted to its own tribe.
Stressing the need to involve the participation of the young generation in such social occasions where one’s roots and traditions are showcased in full potent, Taki appealed to the Apatani denizens to stand united for good social causes irrespective of caste, clan or political lines.
On the occasion, Taki also spelt out the significant encompassing roles of DanyiPillo in the lives of tribals of the State.
While advocating participation of young generation and maintaining a ‘uniform dress code’ in such social occasions, Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Bamin Nime announced to provide 100 ‘supreme ornate’ chairs and help in upkeep of DanyiPillo Society library.
Counsellor in the Department of Indigenous Affairs and a prominent Apatani elderly citizen, Lod Kojee dwelt at length on the topic of protection, preservation and promotion of one’s culture and traditions.
Describing the Apatani dress code as rich, varied and famed all over India which had even fascinated Prime Ministers Late Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi, Kojee voiced against forceful conversions and urged the District Administration against the grant of permission to use government general grounds for religious activities.
The president of TSD, the apex body of the Apatanis, Hage Khoda Shalla said that DanyiPillo was the “earliest and biggest” religion of the world which had evolved before any other religion came to light. He also expressed hope that the modest honorariums given to tribal ‘shamans’ like Gaon Burahs would further attract more tribal people to take up shaman as their profession.
The president of Apatani Danyi Piilo Meder Nello Council (ADPMNC) Ziro and senior citizen, Nending Chatung explained the importance of celebrating the Indigenous Faith Day while ADPMNC Ziro member secretary research, reformation and documentation Rubu Taming narrated the history, growth and development of DanyiPillo religion in the State.
On the occasion, late Gyati Pada was remembered and felicitated for his long and untiring works for growth of ADPMNC Ziro and as a dedicated Danyi Pillo faithful worker posthumously, while singers Tage Tanyo and Tilling Kari were felicitated for their extraordinary works in the field of research and reformation or preservation of the Indigenous faith.
Earlier, the chief guest along with dignitaries hoisted the ADPMNC flag and inaugurated its new office building.
The day-long celebration witnessed showcasing of several colourful dance items by Apatani, Nyishi, Galo, Tagin and Mising tribes. A mega-dance comprising all the tribes and exhibition of Apatani traditional dresses, tools and equipment was another added attraction to the huge gathering of Danyi Pillo believers.
KHONSA: Tirap Indigenous People Society (TIPS) in congruence with other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the Indigenous Faith Day centrally at Nehru stadium, Khonsa in which Pawan Kumar Singh, Commandant Officer, 36 Bn CRPF graced as Chief guest.
The formal program started with Rangtaam at Chaam, followed by Rangsuamsey (Worshipping to almighty Rang, followed by prayer song).
While greeting the Indigenous people on the occasion, the chief guest advised the gathering to follow traditional ways of livelihood, and stated that the parents and elders must play a pivotal role to teach mother tongue (dialect) to their children and younger ones to speak their native language at least at home.
The commandant said, if any of our languages die, the connect to our cultural identity will die. Hence, it is the high transitional time to transfer the Indigenous culture to the younger generation for posterity.
Guest of honour Er Debang Tayeng said that parents and elders must play a pivotal role to teach the younger generation to practise, protect and promote the indigenous culture which were held dear by our ancestors and handed over to us for posterity.
He said that only preservation of traditional culture will not serve the purpose of Indigenous Faith celebration but it should be practised, protected and promoted practically.
Folk dances, folk culture and practices, traditional games and sports performed by Noksa Rangsom Hum, Turet Ransom Hum, Doidam, Deomali Rangsom Hum and Tupi village marked the day. (With DIPRO inputs)