Agriculture and Horticulture Minister of Arunachal Tage Taki hails Nyishi community

A CORRESPONDENT

NIRJULI: Arunachal Pradesh Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture Tage Taki applauded the Nyishi community for pushing ahead with the age-old tradition of Longte-Yullo in a form of celebration, which is one of the oldest traditions to commemorate the separation of human beings from evil forces by a barricade.

Taki, who was addressing the gathering during the Longte celebration at Nyokum Niya ground near here, said that the celebration is to drive away and to get away from evil spirits, pandemic and other social evils. The people living in villages began to construct barricades and such barricades became the safety for the community and the celebration of Longte began.

The celebration was organized by the Capital Complex Longte Celebration Committee (CCLCC).

He said these barricades are being done for the well-being and welfare of the villagers. "I believe the people of the Nyishi community preserve the age-old culture of the tribe for a better future," he said.

"We celebrate Longte to barricade our home from any social evils, pandemic and evil spirits. Like we barricade the fields from being intruded by any animals or evil force for better harvest," he said, adding that there was also practice of barricading villages or houses to avoid any communicable disease.

He also said that there is a serious need of detailed research on the Longte festival so that it can be preserved in the form of a book, which will be knowledgeable for the future younger generation. Moreover, the tradition, culture, language, folklore etc., should also be documented.

"This practice of barricading is not only practiced by the Nyishi tribe, but the entire tribes under Tani communities. Hence, the Department of indigenous Affairs (DIA) should constitute a committee to research on it and come up with a book for preservation of practices in the form of words," he added.

Meanwhile, Director of DIA, Sokhep Kri said that the department has been established bearing a specific motto to preserve, promote and practice the indigenous tradition, culture and custom. Likewise, it is also to promote and practice the age-old folklores.

He also informed that from the next academic session of schools, the students will be taught local languages.

"The effort is to preserve the loss of local language. Therefore, from Class VI to VIII the students will be taught the local language as a third language in the schools. Likewise, the department is also working on the study of local medicinal plants, preservation of tangible and intangible culture and tradition of indigenous tribes," he said.

He also appealed to all the tribes of the State to cooperate and pour in suggestions in preserving the tradition and culture.

Among others, former MLA Pani Taram, MLA Khafa Bengia, IFSCAP general secretary Tango Tamin, NES vice-president Tarh Tabin and others were present on the day.

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