Spirituality Traveller Getaways
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Traveller GETAWAYS ARUNACHAL PRADESH culture & spirituality Traveller GETAWAYS Editorial Business Office EDITOR Amit Dixit CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Indranil Roy PROJECT EDITOR Sanjiv Valsan CONSULTING EDITOR Lasya Nadimpally Advertisements CMS EXECUTIVE Benny Joshua VICE PRESIDENT Sameer Saxena MANAGER Rakhi Puri First Edition 2019 Author & Project Editor Copyright © Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited, New Delhi. All Rights Reserved Sanjiv Valsan Circulation NATIONAL HEAD Anindya Banerjee Research RESEARCHERS Ranee Sahaney Production GENERAL MANAGER Shashank Dixit DISCLAIMER Design MANAGER Sudha Sharma No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or ART DIRECTOR Deepak Suri DEPUTY MANAGER Ganesh Sah transmitted in any form or means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Kapil Taragi ASSISTANT MANAGER Gaurav Shrivas recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited. Brief text quotations with use of photographs are SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rajesh KG exempted for book review purposes only As every effort is made to provide accurate and up-to-date information in this Photography publication as far as possible, we would appreciate if readers would call our SENIOR PHOTO RESEARCHER attention to any errors that may occur. Some details, however, such as Raman Pruthi telephone and fax numbers or email ids, room tariffs and addresses and other travel related information are liable to change. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of information provided in this book. However, we would be happy to receive suggestions Printed and published by and corrections for inclusion in the next edition. Please write to: The Editor, INDRANIL ROY on behalf of Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited from AB-10, Outlook Traveller Getaways, AB-10, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029 Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029 outlooktraveller.com Printed at GH Prints Pvt. Ltd. A-256, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, For updates, news and new destinations, log on to our website New Delhi-110020 www.outlooktraveller.com 2 3 contents p. 08 INTRODUCTION THERAVADA BACK OF THE BOOK BUDDHISM p. 120 Wedding Bells! p. 56 Theravada p. Arts & Crafts Buddhism 126 p. Festival Calendar p. 64 Festivals 133 p. 134 Traditional Fishing p. 70 Monasteries Techniques MAHAYANA BUDDHISM ANIMISM p. 90 Mahayana Buddhism p. 14 Animism p. 144 Travel Essentials p. 26 Festivals HINDUISM p. 156 Tourist Offices p. 114 H induism in p. 156 Tour Operators Arunachal Pradesh EASTERN TRIBES p. 158 Homestays p. 38 Tirap and Longding p. 160 Photo Credits 4 5 Parashuram Kund Mela A PILGRIM’S HAVEN Situated 48km approx north of the sleepy little town of Tezu, this holy shrine in the lower reaches of the Lohit River is said to wash away one’s Department of Tourism sins after a holy dip in the sacred kund. Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India Phone: +91-360-2214745 | E-mail: [email protected] follow us on Arunachal Tourism @ArunachalTsm Introduction A True Melting Pot SPIRITUALITY Arunachal Pradesh is a cultural hotspot. SPIRITUALITY & & With Bhutan, Tibet, China, Myanmar, Nagaland and Assam as neighbours, and a history of migrations and influences from CULUTRE CULTURE each of these areas and beyond over sev- eral centuries, the mix can only be interest- ing. The state has 26 officially recognised scheduled tribes, over a hundred sub- tribes, several animist belief systems and at least 120 languages. In reality, 26 tribes is only a figure used for administration, and the actual diversity is higher than the num- bers suggest. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 8 9 SPIRITUALITY SPIRITUALITY & & CULUTRE CULTURE Photographs by SANJIV VALSAN This is probably the only makes use of the Tibetan The people of Arunachal Pradesh place where Tibetan-style script and are mostly con- INTRODUCTION Tantric Buddhism and old- centrated around the high more Thai-Burmese influ- developed distinct indige- INTRODUCTION school Thai-Burmese style mountain areas bordering enced, tend to practice a nous cultures and practices Theravada Buddhism can Tibet, such as Tawang, West more old-school Buddhism, here. The communities near both be found thriving in Kameng, Mechuka, Tuting mainly in the eastern dis- the Myanmar border in the same state, along with and Anjaw. Their religion is tricts of Namsai and Eastern Arunachal, such as a diverse set of shamanic a mix of Mahayana Changlang. The plethora of the Noctes, Wanchos, animists. Buddhism and the older animist tribes, however, can Tutsas and Tangsas, have a polytheistic Bon religion, be found in almost every somewhat different culture Cultural zones and they have a lot in com- part of the huge state. They that’s considerably close to Generally speaking, the mon with Tibetan tribes follow shamanic practices what’s found in parts of Mahayana Buddhist tribes across the border. and believe in spirits and western Myanmar and the practice Tibetan-style The Theravada Buddhists nature worship. Each of the communities of Nagaland Tantric Buddhism, which on the other hand, who are various tribes have now and Manipur. n 10 11 The Spirituality of arunachal pradesh From stories of the Dalai Lama in the West, the Animism in the Central and Theravada Buddism in the East, a journey through Arunachal is a truly spiritual and enriching experience. Department of Tourism Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India Phone: +91-360-2214745 | E-mail: [email protected] follow us on Arunachal Tourism @ArunachalTsm ANIMISM SPIRITUALITY SPIRITUALITY Apart from the Buddhist exploits. These tribes all & & speak different languages, communities of Arunachal Pradesh, most tribes here but have more similarities are traditionally animists, than differences overall. CULTURE CULTURE and do not belong to con- ventional organised reli- Sacred Yapom forests gions. Animists typically Animists believe in an have no concept of tem- assortment of spirits related ples, holy books, idol wor- to observable phenomena ship or worship of human- such as wind, water, trees oid images or forms. and wildlife, as well as mul- Animism can include many tiple formless deities gov- nature-centric rituals dedi- erning the cycles of nature, cated to natural cycles and agricultural productivity, ANIMISM forest spirits. success in hunting and fish- Ancestors are also spirit- ing. These spirits, known by ually significant in nearly different words in different every tribe. The Tani tribes languages, Yapom in Galo, (Adis, Galos, Nyishis, Epoms in Adi, Khinus in Idu Apatanis, Tagins) believe Mishmi, can either be neu- that they have descended tral, benevolent or malevo- from Abo Tani, the father of lent, depending on the situ- all mankind. Many of their ation. They are generally myths, legends, deities and believed to dwell in dense rituals relate to the colourful forests, especially old trees stories of their revered such as hollocks, and rivers, ancestor and his fascinating waterfalls and lakes. When 15 Photographs by SANJIV VALSAN humans interact with nature, as is the case with tribal communities everywhere, the belief is that people can SPIRITUALITY SPIRITUALITY come into contact with & & these forces. The general policy with these spirits is respect and CULTURE CULTURE non-interference. Some old trees and forests believed to be their dwelling places are either avoided or entered only for a respectful ritual to acknowledge their territory and ask for their help and blessings. Entering these habitats casually, or ANIMISM cutting their old trees, was ANIMISM also considered to be risky, and there are plenty of sto- ries going around about simultaneously. Basar in The sacred Hido Hidi falls people who lost their way in Lepa Rada district has the forest or never returned opened up a few such plac- tiful three- or four-day hike respect the local tradition after they broke this code. es to cultural and adventure beginning at Piri village, and sacrifice a chicken at a These ‘Yapom places’, travellers, including treks involving day-long rigorous specially prepared totem in avoided by humans, have such as Nguda Pokcho peak wading across two rivers, the forest while approaching thus effectively become pro- and Hido Hidi waterfalls camping in the forest and the waterfalls. You also tected areas, with beautiful near Piri village, and the Joli staying in a remote, yet need to introduce yourself forests. They are an excel- forest, near Basar town. content, tribal village with and the names of your fore- lent way to experience both The Hido Hidi falls trek in only four houses. It is cus- fathers, and ask the deities culture and wilderness Lepa Rada district is a beau- tomary for even trekkers to of the waterfall for their 16 17 blessings and safe passage Shamans through their forest. Animists believe that if the For treks in the Lepa spirits of the forest should Rada Yapom forests contact decide to harm humans for SPIRITUALITY SPIRITUALITY Henka Basar (08730805486). whatever reason, the result & & A good time to go is either can be disease, death, mis- during the Basar Conflu- fortune or other problems, ence, a cultural showcase but in typical tribal style, CULTURE CULTURE tourism festival in they also deem that every November, or during problem must have a solu- Mopin, an enjoyable Galo tion. Yapoms/epoms/ui’s tribal festival held in the first and other supernatural week of April, if a bit of rain beings can often be rea- doesn’t bother you.