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Arunachal Pradesh provides for a broad spectrum of
interest.Sociologists will see new socio-cultural patterns of the
tribal people; historians, anthropologists and archaeologists will
discover new ground for their research; naturalists will come across
new genres and species while holiday-makers and sportsmen can occupy
themselves in adventurous sports, mountain climbing and other forms
of physical activity.
Tucked away in the
extreme north-eastern corner of India, Arunachal Pradesh has been
variously described as the “Hidden Land”, the “Terra
Incognito” and the “Cinderella” of our vast country.
For centuries it has remained isolated and cut off from the rest of
India by formidable water-gaps of turbulent rivers and dense belts of
forests. Besides, it has been the habitat of tribal people who have
zealously guarded their helms and homes against any outside ingress.
They have maintained the even tenor of their essentially endogenous
life, close tribal and clan cohesion, unchanging social mores and
customary code governing the conduct of their individual and
community lives and a staunch adherence to their philosophy and
rituals related to their concept of an other-worldly Supreme Being.
In short, they have sustained an independent life in all respects,
economically, socially and politically. This is so not only in
respect of the outside world but even between the scores of tribal
and clan groups that constitute the mosaic of the tribal population
of Arunachal Pradesh. There are some 26 main tribal strains among
the people divided into numerous clans and sub-clans, each with a
distinct linguistic, ethical, cultural and social identity that sets
them apart from each other. The population is therefore a mixed
conglomerate to the point that one tribe differs from another in
marked features such as dress, religious faiths, food habits,
language and racial origin. However, the pre-eminent common trait is
their identical distinction as a tribal society far removed from the
civilization existing in the adjacent parts of Assam, Meghalaya and
Bengal.
Arunachal Pradesh is
endowed generously with natural beauty. Towering serrated mountain
ridges, level pastoral valleys, gushing water streams and a rich
variety of flora and fauna comprise its unique features. The sun
strikes it rays on Arunachal Pradesh before any other part of the
country and swathes it in a golden haze at every dawn. It has four
distinct seasons and a variety of weather at different locations
differing in altitude from a high as 12000 feet to the
sub-mountainous regions that merge into the plains of Assam along its
southern border. The remaining three borders have international
neighbours – Bhutan in the west, Tibet in the north and Myanmar
in the east. Arunachal Pradesh, therefore, has geo-strategic
importance for which reason the British rulers had placed a ban on
free entry into its territory. The same entry regulations continued
to operate when India became independent until very recently, when
both the Central Government and the Arunachal State Government opened
its gates to attract tourists.
The density of the
population is only eight per square kilometre. Each of the 26
individual tribes have a rich cultural legacy and the government
strives to conserve the traditional heritage. The society is
patriarchal and observes primogeniture with different fundamental
laws of inheritance. They follow endogamy and strictly observe the
rule of clan exogamy. Polygamy is socially sanctioned and practised
by most of them. The people are highly democratic and each tribe has
its own mechanism for regulating the life of the people according to
a customary code administered by indigenous institutions to resolve
disputes, promote welfare and ensure law and order.
The people enjoy life,
are convivial, warm and hospitable with a bubbling urge to make the
most of God’s natural bounty. A rich variety of fairs and
festivals provide them with seasonal occasions to get together en
masse and enjoy the common brotherhood and a spirit of cooperation.
The festivals mirror the people’s culture, their artistic genius
and skill at making music and dance forms. Practically each month of
the year witnesses a festival of one tribe or the other. The
festivals serve a two-fold purpose – as thanksgiving ceremonies
in homage to God and His gift of good crops and freedom from want and
disease.
A large number of the
fairs and festivals are linked with the people’s religion.
There are three belts of religion in Arunachal Pradesh. The tribes
such as the Monpas and Sherdukpejns in Kameng and Tawang District who
came in contact with the Tibetans in the north adopted Lamaism of the
Buddhistic faith while the Khamptis in Lohit District who are an
early migration from Thailand, practise Mahayana Buddhism. There is
a small population of the Noctes and Wanchoos in Tirap District whose
long association with the Assamese to their south, converted them to
Hindusim whose principal exponent, Shankar Dev, in the Assam valley
preached universal love. However, a large majority of the people
maintain their ancient beliefs and indigenous religious concepts.
They believe in a supernatural being which has different names among
different tribes. The High God is considered to have two different
existences – one in the Heavens and the other on Earth.
Besides, they consider that a variety of spirits and deities, both
benevolent and malevolent, determine and human fate. With
unquestionable faith they honour their pantheon of gods and recall
them at the time of their fairs and festivals.
The Losar festival of the
Moinpas hails their new year and is celebrated for five days. The
houses are cleaned and Buddhist prayers are offered for prosperity
and good health. Colourful prayer flags are hoisted atop the temples
and dwelling places. The Mopin festival of the Galo tribe in Siang
District lasts for five days each summer when wealth, prosperity and
universal happiness in sought after. The festivities of the Idu
Mishmi tribe of Lohit District is devoted to the appeasement of the
deities for six days. It ends with a colourful fanfare and dances by
the priests. A number of other festivals with religious and seasonal
significance fill the days of the people with mirth and merry-making.
The wide variety of
altitudinal and climatic conditions account for the creation of
different types of forests whose natural shelter and food harbour a
range of fauna, some of which are peculiar to Arunachal Pradesh. It
is the only State which has four major cats – tiger, leopard,
clouded leopard, snow leopard and lesser felines species like the
golden cat and marbled cat. More than 500 birds species have been
recorded, many of which are highly endangered and restricted to this
State such as the white winged duck, sclater monal, bangal florican
etc. This is the riches area for pheasants whose species vary with
the different levels from the plains to the snow clad mountains.
Besides, there are seven species of primates that include Takin which
is to be found only in Arunachal Pradesh. A large mammal called
mithun – a cross between the wild gaur and domestic
buffalo is a majestic animal. Individual wealth is reckoned in terms
of the number of mithuns possessed. Mithun counts for cash
transactions and is also looked upon as a precious part of a dowry.
Arunachal Pradesh has an equally rich variety of reptiles, amphibian
and pisces. Oythons and snakes are commonly found in forests at
almost all altitudes in the temperate zone. Arunachal Pradesh also
has National Parks and Sanctuaries where strict rules are followed
for the preservation of its rare fauna.
Rice is the staple diet
which is extensively cultivated by all the tribes. It is taken in a
boiled form mixed with vegetables, pulses, fish, potatoes and meat.
The people are not familiar with spices nor do they use fat as a
frying medium. Poultry, pigs and goats are reared for domestic use.
Certain tribes in Kameng and Tawang Districts rear sheep and cows as
well. Mithun is another animal common to most tribes whose meat is
consumed with relish. The tribals make a light and nourishing drink
known commonly as apang, (rice beer). Some people brew strong
alcoholic beverages also.
Ceremonies related to
marriages may differ in form but basically it is viewed as a sacred
occasion by all the tribes. The unusual feature of marriage is that
the bridegroom has to pay the bride price to the parents of the bride
in material form such as cattle, ornaments or some other item of
wealth. The idea behind the payment of bride price lies in the fact
that the bride adds to the labour force of the bridegroom while
conversely, the bride’s family looses manpower. In Arunachal
Pradesh, polygamy is fairly common and here again the point in favour
of the custom is that it provides additional hands required in the
cultivation of the fields.
After the father’s
death, the eldest son inherits the authority and the property. In
cases where the younger son establishes his separate family, he loses
his right in the parental property but is extended assistance.
Certain tribes have
customary dormitories. The ones for girls are called Jansopa
among the Nocte tribe, and Morung for the boys. These
dormitories perform a socio-cultural purpose. The girls and boys in
the village dormitories learn the cultural traditions of the tribe
and are trained in discipline, comradeship and responsibility. Herin
they are taught weaving, music, dances and other handicrafts. Among
the Noctes and Wanchows, the Morungs also cater to their training for
war and act as defensive outposts for the villages against any
possible attack. The Noctes and Wanchows were Head-hunting had a
political and social purpose – political when a village wanted
to dominate another and force its will in case of an inter-village
dispute, and social in that the Nocte and Wanchow tribals considered
the head as a precious repository of great spiritual value. The
hunted heads were kept in the morungs as trophies and the men who
took heads were reckoned as heroes among the female folk.
All the tribes have a
wide range of dances which serve varying purpose. By and large,
these are community dances and the people have no tradition of
individual dances to display excellence for art’s sake. Certain
dances have a religious significance such as in the worship of the
gods or at the time of festivals. Others are a thanksgiving for
handsome crops and yet others are performed for entertainment.
Noctes and Wanchows have war dances enacted both before launching an
attack and to celebrate victory in battles.
Pantomime dances are very
popular among the Monpa, Khamba, Mamba and Sherdukpen tribes. The
dancers wear a mask which has a human, animal or bird face and
through their movements and gestures depict a mythical story. Thus
the Deer Pantomime tells the story of a deer chased, caught and later
released. It also provides the moral lesson of compassion towards
animals as preached by Buddha. An example of the monastic dances is
furnished by the annual Dawa Chukchipah dance performed in the Tawang
monastery to drive away evil spirits and bring prosperity. Such
dances are accompanied by music played on trumpets, drums, cymbals,
clarion and conch shell. In other dances such as the Punnung dance
of the Adis, no musical instruments are used but the rhythm is
provided by a Miri (leader) who uses a sword-scabbard
combination to give the beat. In the case of the Nocte and Wanchow
dances, the dancers use spears and daos (steel blades) to
enact threatening assault postures in head-hunting. These dancers
stamp the ground powerfully as they move forwards and sideways making
deep sonorous noises providing a beat. The dancers generally wear
gay regalia of varying materials, colours and shapes for the
different dances of the different tribes.
Arunachal provides a host
of sites of tourist interest. Its capital at Itanagar tells the
historical story of the Ita Fort built in the fourteenth century by
King Ramchandra of Mayapur. Malinithan is another unique site of the
10th and 12th century. It has an ancient
temple housing sculptures of gods and goddesses of the Hindu
iconographic school. Parashuram Kund and the Brahma Kund in the
Lohit district are sacred places that attract thousands of pilgrims
to take a dip in their holy waters and purge themselves of their
sins. Bismaknagar and its fort in the Dibang valley are a memorial
to the Bhagvat Gita story of Lord Krishna’s visit there and his
elopement with a local girl, Rukmini.
The Tawang monastery
constructed in the 17th century houses a big library of
holy books some of which are written in gold letters. Situated atop
a ridge and surrounded by thick clouds and mist, it seems to be
hanging in ethereal space.
Such historical sites
apart, Arunachal has a large number of beauty spots at various
altitudes where one may relax and refresh oneself in a pollution-free
environment. There are waterfalls, glades, forest groves where one
may picnic, camp or languish in an available rest house.
The State Government has
built a large number of circuit houses, guest houses, forest
bungalows, hotels and tented accommodation for the comfort of
visitors. For sheer natural scenic beauty, Arunachal Pradesh is a
showcase of Nature.
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