Editor,
A massive march was held from RK Mission Hospital to the Nyokum Lapang ground in Itanagar on 18 October, celebrating the indigenous faiths, beliefs and cultures. The air reverberated with the chanting of ‘Anv Donyi’ that day, and it was truly captivating. Young and old from all walks of life participated in the march.
I had never seen such a massive gathering in Itanagar. Through all sources, the head count was 20,000 plus, which refuted the claim that the indigenous faiths’ believers’ number was marginal.
This march was a reminder that our spirituality, long-held and deeply rooted, does not exist for the approval or understanding of others. The rally wasn’t a show of supremacy either; it was one to show the world that our indigenous faiths and beliefs are in danger and need to be preserved, promoted and protected
They (alien faith believers) see our traditional attires and ancient rituals not as expressions of a living, breathing faith, but as a backward display to be replaced by what they perceive as a more ‘civilized’ religion. This reaction is not new; it is a tired echo of a colonial mindset that has historically dismissed indigenous beliefs as primitive or demonic, a necessary precursor to forced conversion.
This rally, however, was not for them. It was for us, for our children, our elders, and our ancestors. The purpose of the rally was not to provoke or to show off, but to affirm our existence.
In a world that constantly marginalizes traditions and erodes cultural identities, coming together in such a visible and powerful way was an act of survival and resilience. The march was held to demand that their sacred traditions, faiths, beliefs and cultures be respected and legally protected.
The marchers wore traditional finery to show the youths that their heritage is not a relic of the past but a source of power and pride, that their faith is woven into the very fabric of their lands, songs, and stories. It is reverence for the sun and the moon, for the Earth and rivers, which sustained their ancestors for millennia.
The digital arena is not a space for genuine interfaith dialogue, which requires mutual respect and an honest desire to learn. The trolls’ goal after this massive rally is to instigate and wound, not to understand.
When we share our joy and spiritual practice, and they respond with scorn, they reveal their own spiritual poverty. We can choose to ignore their provocations, or respond with a quiet dignity that affirms our truth without justifying it to the intolerants.
The online trolling of the speakers of the day, belonging to the IFCSAP and its well-wisher organisations like the RSS and the AVP cannot diminish the divinity that this rally celebrated on the 18 October.
The strength of the ancestral faith is not determined by the number of followers but by the depth of their roots. Our indigenous faith does not require a sprawling global empire or a social media strategy. It requires only the land, our community, and the stories passed down through generations.
In Sanskrit there’s a fine line: Dharm rakshati rakshitaha, which means that dharm protects those who protect it. Until then, our response to the noise will be to turn up the volume of our own sacred chants, knowing that our tradition will outlast the fleeting anger of a few.
The bugle has been blown and the IFCSAP still has miles and miles to go.
Gyamde Gumja Tamin,
IFCSAP AGS (HQ)