The
population of Arunachal Pradesh India
is 1,091,117 according to 2001 census
and is scattered over 12 towns and 3649
villages. India Arunachal Pradesh has
the lowest population density of 13
persons per sq. km.
There are 20 major tribes and a number
of sub-tribes domesticating the land
of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Most
of these communities are culturally
identical, having derived from an
original common stock but their geographical
separation from each other has brought
within them certain distinct characteristics
in language, dress and customs.
First group of people : Widely
the people of Arunachal Pradesh can
be divided into three cultural groups
on the basis of their socio-religious
similarity. The Monpas and Sherdukpens
of Tawang and West Kameng districts
of Arunachal adopts the Lamaistic
ethics of Mahayana Buddhism. Marked
for their religiousness, the villages
of these communities of Arunachal
Pradesh have elaborately decorated
Buddhist temples, locally called 'Gompas'.
Though people of Arunachal Pradesh
are mostly agriculturists practising
terrace cultivation, many of these
people are also pastoral and breed
herds of yak and mountains sheep.
Ethnically similar to them are Membas
and Khambas of Arunachal Pradesh,
who live in the high mountains along
the northern borders. Khamptis and
Singphos domesticating the eastern
part of Arunachal Pradesh are Buddhists
of Hinayana sect. These sects are
said to have arrived from Thailand
and Burma long back and still using
ancient scripts inherited from their
original homeland.
Second group of people: The
second group of the people of Arunachal
Pradesh are Adis, Akas, Apatani, Bangnis,
Nishis, Mishmis, Mijis, Thangsas etc..
These people generally worship Sun
and Moon God namely, Donyi-Polo and
Abo-Tani, the original forefathers
for most of these tribes. Their religious
rituals, largely come together with
the phases of agricultural cycles
in Arunachal Pradesh. They offer prayers
to the nature deities and make animal
sacrifices. These tribes of Arunachal
traditionally practice jhumming or
shifting cultivation. Adis and Apatani
of Arunachal Pradesh profusely practice
wet rice cultivation and have a considerable
agricultural economy. Apatani of Arunachal
is also known for their paddy-cum-pisiculture.
Third group of people :The
third group of people of Arunachal
Pradesh comprises of Noctes and Wanchos,
inhabiting the area adjoining Nagaland
in the Tirap District. They are hardy
people known for their strictly structured
village society in which heritable
village chief still plays an important
role. The Noctes tribe also practices
elementary form of Vaishnavism.
Arunachal Pradesh is also called
the land of festivals. Festivals of
Arunachal Pradesh India are an essential
part of the socio-cultural lifestyle
of the people. The people of Arunachal
Pradesh celebrate number of festivals,
which comprises of - agricultural
festivals, religious festivals and
socio-cultural festivals. The Arunachal
Pradesh festivals are associated with
the agriculture and celebrated with
ritualistic enthusiasm. The festivals
are celebrated in bigger scale either
to thank the God for the carefulness
or pray for bumper harvest.
As a matter of fact festivals reflect
the real culture of the people and
the society. The festivals give them
plenty of opportunity to enjoy unreservedly.
The festivals of Arunachal Pradesh
are the occasions for the people to
relax, enjoy, dance, eat and drink.
The ritual part of each festival is
performed by the priest and other
arrangements of the festivals are
done by the people in a community
basis. Throughout the year festivals
are celebrated by one or the other
tribes.
Some of the important festivals are
Mopin and Solung of Adis, Lossor of
Monpas, Sherdukpens and Boori-Boot
of Hill Miris, Dree of Apatanis, Si-donyi
of Tagins, Nyokum of Nishis, Reh of
ldu Mishimis etc. Animal sacrifice
is a common ritual in most festivals.
Festivals form an essential aspect
of Socio-Cultural life of the people
of Arunachal Pradesh. As a matter
of fact festivals of Arunachal Pradesh
reflects the real culture and tradition
of the people of Arunachal Pradesh
. Every social community of Arunachal
Pradesh celebrates number of festivals.
The festivals of Arunachal Pradesh
are generally - agricultural, religious
and socio-cultural, which give them
ample opportunity to enjoy and entertain
freely. The festivals are the occasions
for people to relax, to enjoy, dancing
and eating and drinking.
Agriculture being the basic means
of livelihood in Arunachal, the festivals
having connection with agriculture
are celebrated in bigger scale either
to thank God for the providence or
pray for good harvest. The ritual
part of each festival is performed
by the priest and other arrangements
of the festivals are done by the people
in a community basis. Animal sacrifice
is a common ritual in most of the
festivals in Arunachal Pradesh. Throughout
the year festivals are celebrated
by one or the other tribes. Because
of this fact, Arunachal Pradesh may
also be called the land of festivals.
Sr.No. |
DISTRICT |
HEADQUATERS |
FESTIVAL |
DATE & MONTH (APPROX.) |
1. |
Tawang |
Tawang |
Lossar |
Date as per local custom |
2. |
West Kameng |
Bomdila |
lossar |
Date as per local custom |
3. |
East Kamen g |
Seppa |
i) Nyokum
ii) Gomkum Gompa |
26 February
15 April |
4. |
papum pare |
Itanagar |
Nyokum |
26 February |
5. |
Lower Subansiri |
Ziro |
i) Boori Boot
ii) Nyokum
iii) Dree |
6 February
26 February
5 July |
6. |
Kurung Kumey |
Koloriang |
Nyokum |
26 February |
7. |
Upper Subansiri |
Daporijo |
i) Si-Donyi
ii) Boori Boot
iii) Mopin |
6 January
6 February
5 April |
8. |
West Siang |
Along |
i) Mopin
ii) Solung |
5 April
1 September |
9. |
Upper Siang |
Yingkiong |
i) Mopin
ii) Solung |
5 April
1 September |
10. |
East Siang |
Pasighat |
i) Aran
ii) Mopin
iii) Solung |
7 March
5 April
1 September |
11. |
Dibang Valley |
Anini |
i) Reh
ii) Solung |
1 February
1 September |
12. |
Lower Dibang Valley |
Roing |
i) Reh
ii) Solung |
1 February
1 September |
13. |
Lohit |
Tezu |
i) Tamladu
ii) Sangken |
15 February
14 April |
14. |
Changlang |
Changlang |
i) Mole |
25 April |
15. |
Tirap |
Khonsa |
i) Oriah
ii) Chalo-Loku |
16 February
25 November |
- Central Arunachal Cultural Tour
- Eastern Arunachal Cultural Tour
- Southern Arunachal Cultural Tour
- Western Arunachal Cultural Tour
- Assam Cultural Tour
- Manipur Cultural Tour
- Meghalaya Cultural Tour
- Nagaland Cultural Tour
- Festival Tour
- Monastic Tour (Arunachal )
- Adventure Tour
- Wild Life Tour
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