Heritage Lapang

Lapang and babo are the hallmark of the Apatanis. That made the Myoko festival very special. It is during the Myoko anyangs, which comes every three years, that the babos and lapangs are renewed.

In the days gone by, the lapangs were made out of huge trees. The remains of fallen trees on the ground made best lapangs. Bigger the tree, bigger could the lapangs be made. And prouder were the people of that clan.

Lapang is significant in many ways. One is the tuli - the posts. Each tuli represented a male child. If I have two male children, I would contribute at least three tulis - two for my children and one for myself. It was indeed a brilliant idea to involve everybody in the community works.

In the face of changing village scenario these days, there is one lapang which still retains its original form. The Hibu Lapang in Hong village. Other lapangs today have conrete supporting structures, sawn timber replacing the manually sculptured lapang, or overhead roof to protect the lapang from rain and sun. All these changes have been necessitated by dwindling manpower and decreasing values attached to the traditional institutions.


In this context, therefore, retaining a lapang in its original form speaks a lot. That is why the Hibu Lapang has been declared a Heritage Lapang.


What is still not clear, however, is what exactly a "Heritage Lapang" would mean. Just declaring a structure as having heritage value has little meaning. The Hibu clan who constructs and maintains the lapang need support. The lapangs needs to be promoted and given significance.


Any confusion does not make the significance of Hibu Lapang any less. If you were wondering how an original lapang looks like, visit Hong village.

View from Paku Akhii Putu

We, as children, used to look up at Paku Akhii Putu and were sure that this was the highest mountain in the world that formed the northernmost boundary of earth. I particularly remember an evening when a wildfire had broke up at the hill and we were watching it burning from our riibii in the village.

Paku Akhii literally means 'pigeon's intestine'. But I wonder if it would better mean 'Pigeon's Breast' as the hill may be likened to a pigeon's breast. I could not find out why the hill got its name.

Whatever the reason for the name, it's a great view from the top. One can see the entire valley except the Hapoli township. The altitude at the top is about 6000 ft and it takes less than an hour to hike up there from Chabo at the foothill. Chabo is about a kilometer from Bopu at Lempia. One has the option of trekking through the rice paddy or the bamboo gardens of Koko. The hike up the hill itself is an experience worth undergoing. The chirping of the birds above and rustling leaves below add spice to the enchanting forests around.

At the top of Paku Akhii Putu, there are lots of trenches dug during 1962 Indo-China War. There is a big tree with magnificent branches underneath of which is said to be a favorite haunt of the deers. Wild fowls also abound here. There is a stream some minutes from the top on the other side. This is where the drinking water supply of Lempia, Ziro and Bulla originate.

Paku Akhii Putu is a perfect spot for overnight camping which is my next plan.

Changing Months, Changing Hues

June, 2007

July, 2007

August, 2007

September, 2007

December, 2007

February, 2008

Games Children Play

It has been some years since I participated in the Dree festival. When I briefly sneaked into the Dree ground in Itanagar yesterday, pleasant memories came flooding in. There was a lovely display of the game the Apatani children of the yore played. Ah, no, it has not been very long time back. Not very long ago, children still played 'achie taker' - in which they competed with each other counting as many stars as possible. There was then the 'ilyo tatu' game in which they urged their friends to come out in the evening to play. The one displayed here is a combination of many evening games. I sometimes pity today's children who get bored watching televisions or playing video games.


Will those carefree days ever come back to Ziro?

A Happy Dree

Dree is a ritual as well as a true celebration. The ritual is to propitiate the Gods of Agriculture for a good crop during the year and the celebration is the harvesting of the first crop of the year – taku (cucumber). That’s the reason cucumber is traditionally distributed during Dree.

In the days before 1967 when the Dree was centralized at Nenchalya, young men and women took leave from their agricultural tasks during Dree ‘anyo’ period and used to go for leisurely trekking each of them with a taku that they enjoyed together. Till lately, even the participants in the central celebration of the festival could be seen going to the ground with taku.

The other aspect, often not realized by many, is that Dree is not an event complete in itself. It is a part of a series of ritual that start during the preparation of soil in February till the crops are almost ready for harvest in September. First, Kiidi – Mother Earth and Miido – Sky God is propitiated for a fertile soil and favorable weather. It is followed by Metii so that the germinating crops are protected from Pyodu Biinyi – the God of Famine. Then comes Dree to protect the tender plants from pests and Tamu to destroy them (the pests). Yapung – the Rain God is then appeased in September to protect the crops from hailstorms.