Themes
tribal fairs and festivals
Rituals in Nyokum Festival, arunachal pradesh
Nyokum’s rituals center around sacrificial offerings to spirits, with the Mithun sacrifice symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The ceremony includes a community feast, Ashing, where Mithun meat is shared among villagers. Nyishi elders perform sacred rites, invoking the uyus for blessings, while the Mithun’s horns are displayed in homes as a symbol of status. These rituals highlight the tribe’s spiritual devotion and reinforce social unity.
Nyokum Festival is a vibrant festival by the Nyishi tribe to worship their ancestral spirits and Mother Earth. The term "Nyokum" is a combination of 'Nyo' (land) and 'Kum' (gathering), which means a sacred people's gathering for prosperity and blessings. This ancient festival is celebrated with traditional dances, prayers, and rituals to call upon Uyus, the spirits, for protection and success. It is a moment when Nyishi celebrate their cultural identity and oneness as people.
The Nyishi community, who are predominantly inhabited in Arunachal Pradesh, are near nature and ancient beliefs. In their migration history, the Nyishi observe Nyokum as a way of greeting new lands and ancestral deities. They wear traditional attires, i.e., eri robe for men and par ej for women, which show their unique cultural identity. The Nyishis continue to hold their spiritual and cultural heritage in the form of rituals and festivals.
Nyokum celebrations feature the Rekham Pada dance, a simple yet graceful dance performed by Nyishi women. Both men and women join, singing folk songs to the beat of gunga and talum instruments, which are also played at weddings. The traditional attire includes eri robes and bead jewelry for men, and par ej dresses for women, with bamboo headdresses. This dance reinforces the Nyishi’s cultural identity and their connection to heritage.
Nyokum is fostered by community involvement, and the whole Nyishi tribe comes together to celebrate their culture and their ancestors. Togetherness is promoted through the shared rituals, dancing, and oral reciting of Nyishi origin stories. All levels of the population, from the elders to the youth, play their part in maintaining traditional traditions. This shared participation ensures that Nyokum and the cultural importance it upholds are transferred to successive generations and generate a sense of identity and pride among the Nyishi people.