Arunachal Pradesh, also known as the “Land of Dawn Lit Mountains”, gets its name, i.e., Arun which means Sun in Sanskrit and Pradesh meaning State, in reference to the position of the state as the easternmost state of India. Arunachal Pradesh is also referred to as the “Orchid State of India” or the “Paradise of the Botanists”. In the foot hill valleys of Arunachal Pradesh, that are deeply cut, at least 65 different tribal groups reside with photogenic bamboo houses and bucolic cultures. High up in the Tawang Valley, there are various marvellous Tibetan-Buddhist monastery villages.
Arunachal Pradesh consists of migrants from various parts of India as well as from foreign lands. The state of Arunachal Pradesh is considered to have the highest number of regional languages spoken compared to all other states in India. The state is enriched with different traditions and cultures. In addition to that, the various festivals of Arunachal Pradesh also form an important part of the socio cultural life of the inhabitants of the state. A number of festivals – religious, agricultural and socio cultural are celebrated by people of all communities and societies with great enthusiasm. Festivals that are related to agricultural are celebrated on a bigger scale as agriculture is the basic means of living for the people of Arunachal Pradesh, and the festivals are a way to thank the almighty for the providence as well as for a bumper harvest.
Mostly the rituals of the festivals are carried out by priests. The other arrangements of the celebrations are done by various people of various communities based on their beliefs. One tribe or the other celebrates various festivals throughout the year in Arunachal Pradesh. Because of the various festivals round the year, Arunachal is also called the land of festivals.
Popular Festivals of Arunachal Pradesh
Mopin Festival
This is a popular festival of the Adis of Arunachal Pradesh, especially among the Gallong community of the state. The significance of this festival is to keep natural calamities, diseases, evil spirits and their effects at bay. The celebrations are believed to bring good harvest, prosperity, health, wealth and wisdom. The Goddess Mopin, on whose name the festival is celebrated, is propitiated with grand celebrations. The festival takes place for five days in the month of April. Popir dance is one of the major attractions during this festival.
Mlokom Yulo
One of the major festivals of the Bangnis, this festival is celebrated every year in every village by all the communities. The time for this festival is the Bangini months of Lakhang and Leehar, which are the months of March and April. The festival lasts for five days, and sometimes also for seven days.
Siron Molo Sochum
Siron Molo Sochum is the biggest festival of the Nishi and is celebrated every year during the Nishi month of ‘Ram Po-Lo’, i.e. the month of December. All granaries and houses are rebuilt, and harvest of various crops are done and stored in the granaries before this festival every year. Prayers and feeding guests are major attractions of this festival. This festival is based on the belief that more the guests are satisfied with food and drink, better will be the growth of crops in the coming year. Prayers are offered to please the Goddess of crops for abundance of crops in the granaries.
Nyokum
Nyokum too is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Goddess of crops and is celebrated during the month of August. Prayers, dance, songs for abundance of crops, good health, wealth and unity and joy among the people are the main elements of this festival. Animal sacrifices are also carried out during this festival and Puja.
Other festivals of Arunachal Pradesh that are celebrated in various districts of the state by people of different communities include:
Lossar celebrated in the month of February
Khan celebrated in the months of February or March
Gomkum Gompa that is enjoyed in the month of April
Boori Boot that comes in the month of February
Dree is rejoiced in the month of July
Si – Donyi celebrated in the month of January
Solung comes in the month of September
Aran is enjoyed during March
Tamladu is celebrated during April
Sangken and Reh is celebrated by different districts in the month of February
Oriah is enjoyed again in February
Chalo – Loku comes in the month of November
Mol is rejoiced during April