Governor, CM join festivities
ITANAGAR, Sept 1: The Adi community residing across the state celebrated one of its most popular agro-based festivals, Solung with great enthusiasm and traditional fervour.
In the state capital, Governor P B Acharya participated in the Taku Tabat ceremony at the festival altar, initiating the festival celebration and laid the foundation stone for the Adi Galo Heritage Centre at the Mopin Solung Ground.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor urged upon the community to preserve their rich cultural heritage and traditions. He called upon the younger generation to sustain the prime essence of their traditions but change some of the methods or systems to blend with time.
He also assured to donate Rs 1 lakh to the community, but with the condition that it would be utilised for charitable causes instead of events.
Impressed by an extempore on cultural preservation by nine years old Kentiliya Pertin, the Governor felicitated her and called on all parents to pass on the importance of preserving their indigenous languages and traditions.
Also attending the programme, President of Mising Bane Kebang Parmananda Cheyngiya highlighted the similarity amongst the Adis and Misings and called for strengthening the goodwill amongst them.
The Governor also released the Solung souvenir, ‘Digok Roli’.
A colourful cultural programme and community feast on the occasion along with Punung dance were also part of the celebrations.
At ROING: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday joined the Adi community to celebrate the Solung festival at Adi Gidi Notko. The Chief Minister participated in the ‘taku tabat’ ritual performed for overall well-being of all living beings, which was followed by an inauguration of exhibition stall by the Chief Minister that had on display traditional items, handlooms etc.
(From P-1) Extending his Solung greetings, the Chief Minister said Roing has a special place in his heart, as it was here that he had made his first public visit after he joined the government in 2011 as WRD Minister. Responding to a public memorandum submitted by Dambuk MLA Gum Tayeng, the Chief Minister assured to sanction a new building for Adi Gidi Notko in this financial year.
He also assured to take up the public demand for a police station in Shantipur check-gate to be discussed in the next cabinet sitting.
On the recent cabinet decision to create a Department of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Affairs (DIFCA), the Chief Minister said the objective of the department is purely to preserve indigenous tribal beliefs and traditions, and is not against any religion. The DIFCA is for all tribal faiths and is to protect indigenous beliefs. He further said the Department of Art & Culture has some limitations due to which it is not able to fully support the effort to preserve the local culture.
Exhorting the people on importance of preservation of indigenous culture, the Chief Minister particularly stressed on the importance of children to learn their local dialect and to have understanding of their local traditions and customs.
Speaking on state government’s priority sector, he said education and rooting out corruption is the topmost priority. He said the government is working to make merit count and has decided to form Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for recruitment of group B and C staffs.
The Chief Minister also released an audio album, ‘Rela Manam’.
Art & Culture Minister Dr Mohesh Chai, State BJP president Tapir Gao, Longding MLA Gabriel Wangsu and Roing MLA Mutchu Mithi also spoke on the occasion.
Colourful cultural dances were presented by several troupes.
At PANGIN: Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein appealed to keep alive the oral literature of the tribal community through research and documentation during the Solung celebration at Solung Ground, Pangin.
“Today, we are facing fear of losing our own script, traditional chanting and healing system which need to be preserved through proper research and documentation”, he said, and informed that for research and documentation on tribal healing system and chanting, the state government has kept some fund and the task has been allotted to some foreign scholars who are experts in making such documentation.
Responding to a two-point memorandum submitted by the Siang District Welfare Committee, Mein assured to look into the requirement of additional fund for completion of the Nugong Bridge.
Dikto Yekar, MLA Daporijo also called to minimize excessive merry making during festivals and advised the students to actively participate in the festivals and at the same time to remain focused in their studies. He also called for preservation of tribal cultures and traditions.
President of Abo Tani Clan Organization,Yamra Taya informed that the ATCO strives to maintain age-old traditions and customs and to preserve the rich culture.
Former Minister, Tapang Taloh who is also the local legislator, called for behavioural change among the people of the Abotani clan towards visitors, and urged them to develop friendly attitude towards tourists.
On the occasion a two point memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister for establishment of Mini-Secretariat at Nyobo (Perang Lampang) and allotment of additional fund for completion of Nugong Bridge at an early date was submitted by Tapang Jamoh, President of Siang District Welfare Committee.
Earlier, the DCM inaugurated the Solung festival by unfurling the Solung flag and performing Taku-Tabat before proceeding to the festival hall. Colourful traditional and modern dances were presented on the occasion.
Later, the Deputy Chief Minister along with the dignitaries visited the proposed Mini-Secretariat Site at Nyobo (Perang Lampang), near Pangin.
At PASIGHAT: Arunachal East Lok Sobha MP, Ninong Ering, who attended Solung celebration at Rayang village in East Siang district, appealed to the people to maintain unity and peace for development of the state. MP Ering said that festivals and other traditional behaviours of the ethnic tribe carry the mythological belief depicting their origin, evolution and development of civilization.
Stating that traditional attires and festival is identity of an ethnic group, he urged Adi youths to shoulder responsibility to preserve the ancestral culture and other traditional behaviours to keep their ethnic identity intact.
Addressing the Solung festival at Ruksin village, DIET instructor Dui Gao urged the community not to mix religion with the traditional culture. Expressing concern over the alarming rise of immoral activities among the youths, Gao appealed to the parents to take proper care of their children.
At Ngorlung, Commissioner of Industries, Tahang Taggu accompanied by WRD Executive Engineer, Tamo Jamoh attended the Solung celebration, where Taggu advised the youngsters to know about the mythological aspects related to their traditional cultures. EE Jamoh put emphasize on proper documentation and research on the festive celebration of the ethnic tribal people.
