Correspondent
RUKSIN, 15 May: The Adi community in Ruksin, Pasighat and Mebo subdivisions of East Siang district on Sunday started the celebration of Etor festival in their respective villages.
The festivities began with the hoisting of flags, ‘Taku-Tabat’, discussions on Etor festival’s mythology, and demonstration of Etor Delong (festival dance).
Attending the inaugural programme in Ngorlung village, Ruksin-I ZPM Aruni Jamoh urged the community’s youths to “shoulder the responsibility and preserve their ancestral culture.” She also appealed to the elders, including government servants, to take active part in the celebrations and show their unity and oneness.
PWD Assistant Engineer Onit Borang in his address asked the parents to encourage their growing children to devote themselves to teaching-learning activities.
Earlier, celebration committee chairman Ojing Aze explained the mythology of Etor festival, while ICDS CDPO Onyok Panyang spoke on the significance of Etor Delong, “with reference to the role of the priests in offering rituals for bumper harvest of the cereal crops and wellbeing of the domesticated beasts.”
Among others, Ngorlung HGB Oling Tarang, teacher John Panyang and celebration committee secretary Orik Panggeng spoke.
An audio album containing songs by singer Takir Paron was released on the occasion.
