Correspondent
PASIGHAT, 12 Mar: The weeklong festivities of Unying-Aran, the spring festival of the Adi tribe, concluded on Friday night.
The Karpung Karduk Centre for Folk Music Academy of Ruksin, led by artist Delong Padung, with the help of the East Siang district administration organised a cultural programme at Sika-Tode village on the concluding day of the festival.
Attending the festivity, Art & Culture Director Tamuna Messar said that his department has placed a proposal for setting up music academies in different places, including East Siang, “which is waiting for the state government’s approval.”
He appealed to the MLAs and ministers to demand budgetary approval for the proposed music academies.
Stating that the state government has created the department of indigenous affairs for protection and promotion of the tribal arts and cultures, Messar urged the Adi people to maintain uniformity in displaying the folk cultures such as Unying-Tapu, Baari, and Yakjong dances pertaining to the festival.
Earlier, Delong Padung said that “Unying-Aran is a unique festival of Adi tribe which showcases many ethos of their living traditions, including Tapu dance – a mock spiritual war dance performed to repeal evil forces from the societies.”
The festival is also celebrated to pay respects to Nanyi-Mete (goddess of the wild beasts), with the aim of creating awareness on conservation of biodiversity for the survival of mankind.
Among others, Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, retired education director Tapi Gao, District Art & Culture Officer Mannong Tayeng, AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai, Oyan ZPM Bimol Lego and gaon burahs were present on the festive occasion.
The concluding programme of the festival celebration included presentation of Unying-Tapu, Baari and Yakjong (So:sor) dances, showcasing the traditional ethos related to their folk performing arts and spiritual practices.
