ARUNACHAL PRADESH FESTIVALS

SIANG RIVER FESTIVAL

The Yomgo River Festival (Siang River Festival) is held to celebrate
the communal harmony in Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier this festival
was celebrated in the form of Brahmaputra Darshan Festival in Tezu
and Pasighat but since the year 2005, the festival is celebrated as
Siang River Festival in places like Tuting, Yingkiong and Pasighat.
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 local
model house. Apart from this, an exhibition of handloom and
handicrafts by the different districts is also held.
 PANGSAU PASS WINTER
FESTIVAL

This is a modern day winter festival which started in the year 2007 and since then
has been gaining a lot of popularity in the state. This festival is celebrated in
Nampong which is situated in

Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Pangsua Pass Winter Festival (PPWF) is a

three-day fest that takes place in the month of 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.
ZIRO FESTIVAL OF MUSIC
This festival is Arunachal’s own version of the Sunburn Festival. Ziro
Festival of Music is the biggest outdoor music festival in the state
and is the most happening event in Arunachal Pradesh as well.
Music lovers from all over the state and the North East region
gather at Ziro, where this festival takes place.
It is a four-day festival where the music lovers enjoy the
performances of international and domestic music artists. Folk acts
from all across the North East are also organized; therefore, it is a
good opportunity to learn about the different cultures here. People
make merry and spend four unforgettable days at the Ziro Festival
of Music.
SOLUNG FESTIVAL
An agriculture festival- Solung is celebrated in the month of 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 neighbours, women and children.
On the fourth day of the festival which is also called the Oinnyad, one of family member goes
to the field and sacrifices a fowl especially for ‘Kine Nane’. On the seventh day or Ekob, men
assemble at the village dormitory known as ‘Mosup’ to make bows and arrows, which are
then fastened on the doors of every house in the village.
On the tenth and final day of the festival, village people uproot the weak plants of paddy that
get spoiled by worms and insects and this process is known as Irni. This act is done in the
hope that ‘Kine Nane’ (the Goddess) will drive away the worms and insects out of the fields.
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.
It is a 2-day festival in which the Nyishi tribe enjoys singing,
dancing and gathering up. Men and women hold hands and form a
circle to perform a traditional dance. The major rituals are
performed by the high priest and prayers are offered to the spirits
to bring tranquillity and prosperity to each household.
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.
The festival falls usually in the month of February or in early March
and lasts for about 8 to 15 days during which homes are cleaned,
prayers are offered, religious flags are hoisted atop each house,
holy scriptures are read and lamps with butter are lit in all the
houses. The local deity is also worshipped by the Monpas for the
welfare of the society and the people. Losar is also the time to
relish the taste of local made drinks and savour the traditional
cuisine.
DREE FESTIVAL
Celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm, Dree Festival is a
crucial part of the Apatani tribe of Lower Subansiri district. Ziro is
the ideal place to see the celebration of Dree. During the festival
people offer sacrifice of fowls, eggs and animals to the Gods and
pray to the deities of Tamu, Metii, Danyi and Harniang. Prayers are
offered to God Tami so that he protects the plants from harmful
pests and insects.
Metii is worshipped for controlling of famine and epidemics. Danyi,
on the other hand is offered prayer for the protection and
prosperity of mankind. God Harniang is worshipped for ensuring the
fertility of soil and preventing the paddy plants from getting dried.
During the fest a local beer called Apong is prepared by each
house. The venue for the worship is decided by the high priest
(Nyibu), which is often a placed near the paddy fields.
BOORI BOOT FESTIVAL
Boori Boot festival is the way to offer gratitude for successful
harvest of the crops. It is a 3 days festival that is celebrated by the
Hill-Miris in the Upper Subansiri and Lower Subansiri district in the
month of February. Boori Boot means to get together irrespective of
caste, creed, age and sex to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Another aspect of this festival is that people pray to the spirit of
Boori Boot so that it blesses them with prosperity and frees them
from diseases. People from all over Arunachal Pradesh come to
Upper and Lower Subansiri districts to be a part of this festival and
zealously participate in all the activities organized during the fest.
The high priest who is known as Nibu’ performs the rituals and
conducts the sacrifice on behalf of the people
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.
It is a 3 days festival which starts with a day called Phamlamja; on this day animals like pigs and
buffaloes are slaughtered for meat and the village people engage in preparations for the next
day. Also, people check their traditional costumes, which would be worn during the celebrations.
The second day of the festival is known as Chamkatja and on this day the Noctes enable the
male members of the family to become full-fledged members of the Paang (decision-making
committee).
It is in fact mandatory that each household performs a ritual called Chamkat for each of its male
member who has attained adolescence on the day of Chamkatja. The third and final day is
called Thanlangja, and on this day villagers, irrespective of sex, age or social status participate
in folk dances. The dances are performed at the house of the Chief and in the premises of the
Paang. The families who have observed Chamkat invite the dancers to perform at their houses
and in return offer food and drinks to the participants. Thanlangja is also a day for the people to
visit their relatives and friends.