Dree celebrated with pomp and gaiety wp5943cfcb_0f.jpg ITANAGAR, Jul 05: Dree, one of the major festivals of Apatani community was celebrated with pomp and gaiety throughout Arunachal Pradesh. At Dree Ground, Papunallah in sate capital, Minister Finance, PWD & Planning, Chowna Mein attended the celebration as chief guest. While conveying his greetings to the Apatani community of capital complex on the occasion, he said “Festival are for merry making and enjoyment. The celebration of such festivals has become all the more imperative in recent times, as it introduces the younger generation to our customs and folklore thereby encouraging them to not only take interest but actively participate in the preservation of our rich culture”. wpf5561b86_0f.jpg At Khonsa He further said that our identity is rooted in our culture. If we lose our culture we lose our identity. Hence each tribe in Arunachal should maintain their culture while maintaining the spirit of ‘Unity in Diversity’. ‘Our culture our pride’ should be the mantra of all the tribe in Arunachal. He announced package of Rs 50 lakhs for the improvement of Dree Ground. Parliamentary Secretary Agriculture, Likha Saaya said that agriculture is the main area where we need to emphasize with the use of new technology. One must not forget his or her roots and endeavor to preserve their respective culture. One must learn from each and every tradition in order to progress. He also added that ‘Love is more powerful than hatred’ MLA Techi Kaso also extended his greeting to every person present in the festival. He informed that during his span as Chief Patron he had cooperated with the community and assured to extend similar support in future. In order to encourage education the meritorious students were felicitated by the Apatani Career Guidance Forum Academic Award. The festival was later followed by the cultural programme and mega Daminda dance, Community feast was also enjoyed by the people along with traditional games and sports. Dree is a fertility festival observed by the community for bumper crops and family and social welfare. On the occasion ‘Dree Souvenir’ and book on Apatani artifacts written by Roto Tadi was released by the Mein. A weekly newspaper ‘The Arunachal Herald’, published by Nani Kojeen was also released by guest of honor Likha Saya while a ‘The Ritual Version of Apatani’, a book by Mihin Kaning was released by MLA Techi Kaso. The people of Hong village also celebrated Dree at Hanoko with traditional gaiety in befitting manner. Addressing the people as chief guest on the occasion, Power and Panchayat Minister Tanga Byaling exhorted the Apatani brethren to celebrate the festival irrespective of religious differences and preserve their traditional culture. On the demand for creation of a separate community development block for people of Niichi, Hiitii and Hari villages, the Minister assured people to take up the matter at government level. Earlier, Bylaing interacted with the Dree Nyibus (priests). The Minister also distributed prizes/awards to the Class-XII toppers during the felicitation program arranged by All Hong Employee Association. Earlier, Tapi Tai read out the Dree mythology. Colourful cultural show and Daminda dance were main attraction of the celebration. Meanwhile, Sambu Club A-Team (SCAT) won the 24th Hong Dree Football Tournament defeating Miri Mani, Dikopiita, Suchusi Football Club (MMDSFC) 3-0 in the final today. At Khonsa, Dree festival was also celebrated with gaiety and fanfare. Speaking on the festive occasion as the chief guest Khonsa ADC H Matcha said that the Dree festival celebration at Khonsa reminded him of the mega Dree celebrations he had attended at Ziro in the past and urged the Apatanis to spare no efforts in preserving their rich culture. Matcha said that all the festivals in Arunachal were related to agriculture and well-being of all human beings and animals adding that festivals fostered love, happiness and peace. Participating in the festival as guest of honour Tirap SP Vikramjit Singh while greeting the participants appreciated the various dances performed by representatives of all the tribes. The President of the festival committee read out the Mythology associated with Dree. Prizes to the dance groups were distributed by the Matcha and Singh. The day-long programme was marked by dances from all tribes and a grand community feast. At Bomdila, Dree the main festival of Apatanis was celebrated today at Bomdila, the district headquarters of West Kameng with much fanfare, pomp and show. Wishing good health, peace & prosperity to the people, Parliamentary Secretary for HPD RT Khunjuju availed the opportunity to impress upon all the need for maintaining proper sanitation in and around the township and make Bomdila a tourist destination, not just a transit point for onward journey to Tawang. He also reiterated on the need for planned and legal constructions in the district headquarter and be an equal stakeholder in maintaining the ecological balance and beautification of the township. Personal gains and motivations at the cost of others should be done away with, he impressed. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner AK Singh called for upholding and preserving ones age-old culture and tradition in order to maintain ones identity. We need to be attached to our roots and be proud of who we are, he said and highlighted on his endeavors to promote the various cultures of the state during his tenure as the Director of Tourism. Among others, Superintendent of Police Nupur Prasad, HODs, Public and Panchayat leaders were present during the celebration at Kameng club. At Roing, The main agricultural festival of Apatani Community, Dree was celebrated with traditional fervour and religious gaiety at Multipurpose Cultural Centre, New Colony by the people of the Apatani community at Roing today. Mukut Mithi, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) attending the programme as the chief guest extended his greetings to the people of Apatani Community on the auspicious occasion of the Dree festival. He says that the Apatani’s though made themselves late in the National Limelight has made a remarkable achievement in the fields of education, agriculture and other areas. The community has the highest percentage of literacy in the state and the community today plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the state and one can find them working in every place and various posts in Govt departments of the state. He wished them to carry forward the same spirit in future too for betterment of all the people of the state. He also said that there is much resemblance between the farming system in the Zero Valley and that of villages in Japan. He also observed that the Tribal people are not only guardian of culture but also the initiative of change. The Transition in the Tribal culture is quite rapid and changing at fast rate according to the Anthropologist, he informed. He also informed that a Project named “Tribal Transition – Cultural Change in Arunachal Pradesh” done by Economic & Social Resources Council, Govt of United Kingdom was carried out during his tenure as Chief Minister of the state in the year 2002 in which some anthropologists and high ranking officers worked together. The oucome of the project is being preserved at British Meseum, School of Orientation Studies at London. He appealed the young scholars to have same zeal like the previous anthropologists who came from far off places and made tremendous efforts to explore the tribal culture in our state and suggested documentation of the rich cultural heritage of our tribes for future generation. Sipi Elapra, Zilla Chairperson attending the function as the Guest of Honour said that the festival binds us together in love, peace and harmony. By celebrating together, we are able to share moments of joy and sorrow with our fellow beings, she added. She appealed not to forget to observe the traditional festival for preservation of our age old traditions and culture. Tage Tado, Vice-Chairman Dree Festival Celebration Committee Roing while highlighted the Dree Mythology. Mudang Rika, General Secretary and Hage Taro, Assistant General Secretary of the DFCC Roing also spoke on the occasion. Later, prizes to the winners of various literary competition and sports & games events organised during the Dree Festival Celebration and meritorious students of the Apatani community were distributed by the chief guest, guest of honour and special invitees. Among others, Shiv Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, W Tikhak, ADC, HoDs, Ex-Zilla Chairpersons & ZPMs and other PRI & prominent public leaders of the district joint the celebration. DIPR/DIPROs #marcus
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 06:38:53 +0000
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