From Our Correspondent
PASIGHAT, May 15: The celebration of Solung Etor festival of Adi community begun on Wednesday with great enthusiasm across the state, mostly in Adi inhabited Siang, Dibang and Lohit valley.
The festival is related to community fencing of the agricultural lands. Mithuns in olden days were kept under large area in the jungle surrounded by fencing for protection of the crops. Etor means ‘fencing’ in Adi. This festival is celebrated to begin the annual agricultural cycle of the community.
The community come together to create new fence to protect the agricultural fields for the season. All cattle are to be taken outside the fence.
In this festival of Etor, people worship the deities for the good health of their domestic animals and prosperity of the village. The festival consists of a huge feast and offerings are made to the gods. Traditional songs and dances are performed in the festival. The traditional dance and song ‘Delong’ (an Adi male dance form) is performed by the menfolk, especially the youths in a “Dere/ Musup” (community hall). Gampu, a community feast is also organized in Dere where only males and young children can participate.
The celebration started early morning by sacrifice of animals like pigs and mithun and rituals of Solung Etor being performed. “The festival will last for few more days and will end after conduct of a traditional rituals, called “Mopun”. The festival have series of serials and occasion like ‘Dogin/Tanyum yume, Dorep/Ardo-Bado longe (today), Gampu longe, Kemey longe, Lungak /Eso-Eyek agam with traditional offerings to the god ‘Dadi Bote’ associated with Agung Agam kepel and then lastly the Mopun”, said Kaling Borang, one of senior Adi members here, who heads the literary unit Adi Agom Kebang of the Adi Baane Kebang (apex body of Adi community).
Meanwhile, NPP Lok Sabha candidate Mongol Yomso, speaking as chief guest of celebration at Bilat village, exhorted the villagers, especially, the youths to preserve their rich traditions and cultures.
Traditional rituals including cultural items by local girls marked the celebration.
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