Festivals

Festivals are a vital part of the socio-cultural life of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The festivals having connection with agriculture is celebrated with ritualistic jollity either to thank God for the providence or to pray for a profuse harvest.
Dances also form a vital element in the zest and joy of the tribal. Tamladu Festival is one of the main festivals of the tribe Digaru Mishmis. The Digaru Mishmis are one of the ancient tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

Tamladu Festival in Arunachal Pradesh is one of the primeval festivals of Arunachal Pradesh. The hills and valleys are the homeland of various tribes. These tribes still hold on to their conventional tradition and beliefs. Cultivation is the main livelihood of the tribes.
Tamladu Festival is the prayer that is offered to the God of Earth and the God of Water. The tribal people believe in nature worship and according to their belief, nature protects them from natural calamities. The supreme god of the tribe is Lord Jebmalu. Jebmalu is worshipped for the welfare of the people, crops and domestic animals.

The Losar festival of the Monpas, which is their new year, is celebrated for five days. On the eve of the festival people clean out their homes to usher in the New Year and to thrust aside the old. The dirt and the grit of the old year are considered to symbolize ill health. The five days of the festivities prayers are offered for prosperity and good health. The festivities include the hoisting of religious flags atop their homes.

Reh festival is associated with the Idu Mishmis.Appeasement of the deities who control the peace and prosperity of the people is the thought behind the six days celebrations.

The Wanhos celebrate their most popular festival, Ojiyale during March-April, for six to twelve days interspersed with prayer, song and dance. Villagers exchange bamboo tubes as a mark of greeting and good will. Pig's skin is offered to the village chief as a mark of respect.

The Khan festival is an occasion for the reunion of the people. Besides the usual festivities, the significance of the festival lies in the ceremony whereby the priest ties a piece of wool around everybody's neck. The belief is that the enchanted thread will bring good luck to each of them.

Sangken festival is an occasion to bathe the images of Lord Buddha imperially. The people sprinkle water on each other as a sign of gaiety. One of the groups celebrates Mopin for wealth, prosperity, good health and universal happiness. Smearing of rice powder on each others' faces marks the beginning of the festival which is celebrated for five days.