Every tribal community in contemporary times is struggling to find a way through which they can preserve and promote the culture and tradition that has been followed since ages. In the similar manner, the Tagin tribe of Arunachal Pradesh relies on the cultural festival of Si-Donyi to cling on to the age-old practices of their religion Donyi-Polo. It is one of the rituals of Donyi Poloism to worship nature in the form of deities and the same ritual of offering prayers to nature is followed in Si-Donyi. The Tagins consider it to be an auspicious festival which involves the veneration of the male spiritual form of Earth (Atu Si) and female spiritual form of Sun (Ayu Donyi).
The festival is celebrated every year with much pomp and joy in the first week of January. Generally, it starts from 3rd or 4th of January and continues till 5th-6th of the same month. Similarly, the Tagins have begun their celebrations for this year with much fervor and high spirit.
It is believed that the festival had its inception in the year 1975 by It.Tatar Uli, who was the main pioneer of Si-Donyi and under the guidance of notable persons like It.Tadak Dulom, Popak Baghe and Dubi Nigam the tribes began to preach since then.
The popular belief behind Si-Donyi is that it is observed for the well-being of the community and mankind as a whole. Not only these, prayers are offered to the deities to seek blessings for good harvests as well.
The sacrifice of Mithuns (Gayal) is believed to ward off evil spirits and bad omens from the lives of Tagins. In the rituals, the high priest, Nyibu chants holy incantations and hymns knownas ‘Uyu Barman’ that calls the spirit responsible for causing problems and suffering. A platform is constructed of bamboo, woods and leaves, known as Sehtu where the chanting and Gayal sacrifice is performed.
Another interesting ritual includes the offering of a white chicken, which is made to Nonyi on the peak of a high pole in a ceremony known as ‘Donyi Meli Pinam.’
The festival remains incomplete without the dances, which includes Chungne, Konyi Bokar, Riabu and Takar Ghene. Almost all men and women participate to perform donning their traditional attires and ornaments. The older men, too, participate in the dance form to welcome the spirits. They smear a paste made of rice beer and rice powder on their faces during the time of celebration.
Distribution of meat made out of the sacrifice of Gayal is distributed among the devotees which marks the end of the event, while celebrations continue till some weeks with fervour.
The festival is considered to be expensive and thus people of the tribe choose to participate collectively to make it feasible and successful. But, what concerns the Tagins is the ignorance of the new generation who has turned their backs towards the ritual. In fact, other members of the tribe too are found to embrace Christianity due to western influx in the culture, which is believed to be a threat to the community. Thus, promotion and strengthening of the culture and tradition are the only ways through which they can curb the threat from the existing vulnerable state.
As uncertainty of its celebration was looming among the locals due to the spread of the deadly coronavirus. However, the celebration of the festival is going on in full swing in the state and slated to continue till 8th January following all necessary covid protocols directed by the administration.