Podi-Barbi festival celebrated in Arunachal
ITANAGAR: Podi- Barbi, a festival for good harvest of the Adi community was celebrated with traditional fervor and gaiety among all the people of the state irrespective of tribe and community at Mopin-Solung Ground on Wednesday.
The celebration was organized by Podi- Barbi Celebration Committee Itanagar-2018. Hundreds of people comprising young and old wearing traditional attire participated in the festival . Attending the celebration as Chief Guest, Vice President BJP (state) Tame Phassang extended Podi Barbi greeting to the Adi communities and state as whole. Lauding the community for its rich culture and tradition, Phassang said 'One cannot find the zest of our rich culture and tradition in Google or any other sources but it has to be inherit from our ancestors.' "I have spent my college days in Jawahar Nehru College Pasighat, since then I have a close association with Adi communities and what more attracted me is their practice to preserve their language," Phassang added.
Requesting the youths of the other community Phassang asked to learn from the Adi community to preserve the local indigenous dialect. He said Adi people are of few that greets and speaks each other with their own language which helps them to preserve their language. While asking people to be united for a strong and developed society, Phassang added Adi community is one of the most intellectual societies in the state and they could lead us in positive way. "Moreover, my doors are always open for everyone irrespective of cast, tribe & creed, I will extend my all out support for every positive endeavor," he added.
Extending festival greeting, Guest of Honour Superintendent Engineer –RWD, Getom Borang also stressed on the preservation of culture and tradition. He also appealed the youths of the community to uphold their traditions, while moving simultaneously with modernity. While elaborating on the mythology of Podi Barbi festival, Borang also urged the gathering to maintain the sanctity of every festival. Acknowledging, Adi community as one of the intellectual and developed communities of the state, MLA Mechuka PD Sona appealed the community leaders to be torch bearer for the others.
Beside regular event, alter (Zazina), Momen ponung,cultural event and community feast were also organized to mark the day. Mainly celebrated by the Adis of Mechuka, Monigong and Tato in newly created Shi Yomi district, the Podi-Barbi is an occasion to extend gratitude to deities and Mother Nature for prosperous and surplus production of crops.
Also Read: Arunachal Governor B D Mishra, CM Pema Khandu convey Podi Barbi Greetings
