Themes
tribal dance
Rekham Pada Dance, arunachal pradesh
The Rekham Pada dance is a cultural centerpiece of the Nyishi people, performed during the Nyokum festival in Arunachal Pradesh. The festival’s name, with “Nyo” meaning land and “kum” symbolizing gathering, represents a unification of the Nyishi community to honor Goddess Nyokum, regarded as Goddess Laxmi for the Nyishis. The dance invokes uyus or spirits for blessings and prosperity, linking the Nyishi people’s ancient migratory traditions with modern – day celebrations of heritage and community resilience.
The Nyishi tribe, native to Arunachal Pradesh, is known for its deeply spiritual connection to nature, traditionally honoring the earth and spirits for prosperity. Their migratory history involved rituals of land cleansing, worship, and animal sacrifices. Today, these practices have evolved into the Nyokum festival, where the Nyishi perform the Rekham Pada dance. The Nyishi people wear traditional garments and adornments and place great importance on community rituals, maintaining a strong cultural identity and connection to their ancestors.
For the Rekham Pada dance and Nyokum festival, Nyishi men and women dress in traditional attire that reflects their cultural roots. Men wear eri or cotton robes, paired with bead jewelry and a podum headgear, symbolizing heritage. Women don a par ej, a beautifully woven cotton garment, alongside distinctive jewelry and bamboo -crafted headdresses. This traditional attire embodies Nyishi identity, enhancing the dance’s significance while providing a visually striking display of Nyishi craftsmanship and connection to their natural environment.
The Rekham Pada dance is performed to the rhythmic sounds of the gunga and talum—traditional instruments central to the Nyishi musical tradition. The dance’s simple yet graceful movements are harmonized with folk songs sung by both men and women, reflecting the Nyishi community’s unity. These instruments, also used in weddings, provide a connection between festive and sacred occasions, ensuring that traditional Nyishi music remains integral to their cultural identity and celebrations across generations.
The Rekham Pada dance is performed during the Nyokum festival, where Nyishi rituals and festivities symbolize unity and cultural pride. The festival concludes with Ashing, a grand feast involving a Mithun sacrificial offering, with meat shared among attendees and horns displayed for social prestige. Rekham Pada and related traditions have endured as an emblem of Nyishi cultural identity and community strength, passed down through generations and reflecting the tribe’s harmonious relationship with nature and ancestry.