Arunachal: Indigenous Faith Day celebrated at Ziro
Shortfall of shamans should not be reason for decline of Donyi-Polo believers: Taki
ZIRO- Lamenting the declining believers of Donyi-Poloism, Minister Agriculture and Allied Tage Taki said the flag bearers of Donyi-Polo, the oldest religion of the world need to introspect and devise suitable means and mechanisms to rope in more believers into their fold during the Indigenous Faith Day celebration at Donyi-Polo General Ground here today.
Acknowledging the shortage of shamans as a vital factor for believers in shying away from performing the aged-old rituals, the Minister, who attended the function as the chief guest said documentations of most of the rituals are now available and believers of Donyi-Polo should not shy away from professing and carrying forward the faith and legacy of the world’s oldest religion for sake of posterity.
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Announcing that an ‘Indigenous Gurukul School’ would also be soon set up Ziro, Taki also said the believers of Donyi-Polo would also have a better celebration ground next year with proper seating avenues, parking space and toilets. The bachelor barracks behind the celebration ground has been demolished while the PHED water tank has also been realigned. So, we will have a more spacious and better celebration ground next year, he explained.
Appealing the people of Apatani Plateau to broaden their horizons and keep pace with the changing times, the Minister also appealed the people to mandate their leader by yardstick of their work output for the people and the place rather than by influence of money power.
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Guest of Honour and Lower Subansiri Deputy Commissioner Bamin Nime also lamented the low participation of Donyi-Polo believers in mega functions. Recently the District Administration had organized the ‘Gaurav Janjatiya Diwas’ where participants from Donyi-Polo faith were quite low. The elders and in-charges of respective Meder-Nellos need to work for larger participation by Donyi-Polo believers at Govt. functions also, the DC said.
Special Invitee and Arunachal Vikas Parishad (AVK) General Secretary Gomar Angu said the Donyi-Polo believers of Ziro Plateau need to work more vigorously to facilitate more inclusive and larger participation by young generation followers. AVK works towards protection, preservation and promotion of our own culture and beliefs and I firmly believe the Apatani Donyi-Polo Meder Nello Council, Ziro will work earnestly in those lines, he said.
Highlighting the significance of the Indigenous Faith Day celebration and the essence of Donyi-Polo religion, the Apatani Donyi-Polo Meder Nello Council (ADPMNC), Ziro chief advisor Dr. Hage Tabyo in his keynote address said Donyi-Polo is the most powerful living god which is universally accepted. Donyi-Polo is the savior of Abotani, whose descendants we all are, and we need to reciprocate and acknowledge our creator, he said.
Counselor to Department of Indigenous Affairs Lod Kojee said diminishing celebrations of Myoko and Murung festivals by Apatani people was due to shrinking nyibus or shamans. He advocated exchange of ritual performance by shamans of nearby villages not partaking in the current Myoko and Murung festivals to make up for deficiency of the shamans.
Former Election Commissioner Hage Kojeen narrated the landmark sequence of events of the rise of Donyi-Polo faith in the state. Kojeen informed Donyi-Polo faith had come into formal existence in 1968 in Adi belt led by Lt. Talom Rukbo and Adi intellectuals. In 1984 the Donyi-Polo faith had been relayed to western world for the first time by Late Talom Rukbo, at Germany in 1990, 1993 at Bangalore, while in an inter-faith workshop at Seoul, South Korea, I had also deliberated about our region to outside world, informed Kojeen.
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Tanii Supun Dukung (TSD), President H.K Shalla, generous contributor Er.Dani Gambo and ADPMNC General Secretary Kalung Tani and Vice-president Habung Apo also spoke on the occasion.
Two Donyi-Polo believers Mudo Tagia and Hage Yabi were felicitated for their distinguished contributions in their respective fields of expertise.
The day-long function also witnessed rich and colorful traditional culture items from different village Meder Nellos, Tagin and Missing communities and traditional fashion show.
