Research Paper
History
E-ISSN No : 2454-9916 | Volume : 8 | Issue : 5 | May 2022
A PERSPECTIVE ON THE BELIEF SYSTEM OF DIYING KHO: A FESTIVAL OF THE BUGUN TRIBE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH Dr. Ritter Basar Assistant Professor, Department of History, Binni Yanga Govt Womens College, Lekhi, Naharlagun, India. ABSTRACT Religion has always been an integral part of human existence in this world. Since the early civilisation worship of Gods, Goddess and deities were performed in different forms like trees, stone, sun, moon, hills, mountains, rivers etc. People practiced and followed their own belief system. Buguns one of the animist tribe of Arunachal Pradesh has been believer of nature since ages which included different types of offerings in the form of sacrifices. The indigenous belief system are based on that section of people who are strongly knitted together by a kinship and follow the divine spirits, totem structures, supernatural power etc. The primitive religious practices of the tribe have been venerated by oral tradition in the form of folk lore's, narrations of dance and song, mythological stories and expressions by the elderly native people. Arunachal Pradesh inhabited by 26 major tribes and various smaller sub tribes has innumerable oral history which enables to acknowledge the cultural, social and religious structure of a particular tribe. The state is endowed with various religious festivals which are believed to bring prosperity, happiness, togetherness and love in the community. DiyingKho is one of the major festivals celebrated by the Buguns. It is commemorated in respect of river God Diying. It is celebrated by the people of Singchung village (also known as Braidua Thap). The festival is presided for seven days. Each day is marked with the worship of deities by erecting colourful flags known as Fhuan. Phabi Priest occupies an important position without which the festival is incomplete. Sacrifice is another feature which is termed very auspicious during the occasion. However unlike the Monpas and Khamptis of the state Buguns do not have a scripts and this makes the task of reconstructing their history still more difficult. However the tribe is rich in oral folklores which enables in developing and understanding their past occurrences. This paper is an attempt, to build a historical perspective regarding their religious belief system. KEYWORDS: Belief system, Folk culture, Kinship, Totem, Phabi, Diying Kho festival. INTRODUCTION: The sacred belief system has been regarded universal since time immemorial. The humans of early civilizations had developed a certain belief system which was considered supernatural strength. These powers were regarded as supreme. People expressed their lives and its variations through oral sources, like folk lore, myths, stories, legends and so on. Likewise in Bugun community absence of idol worship or any construction of temples or shrines are not witnessed. People here believe that universe itself has soul and it has to be pleased by offering sacrifices. These sacrifices were performed following by numerous rituals. The state of Arunachal Pradesh comprises of 26 major tribe and several lesser known tribes which are segregated in different zones of the state. Even though these tribes have their own ethnic culture which is very distinct in their own way, nevertheless there is some commonness between each tribe. It is the indigenous belief system which provides people with a sense of bonding. The sacred religious practices and the faiths of the tribal's have numerous myths and traditional values associated with them.
However with the coming of modernisation people have discarded applying it as the new economy has brought numerous changes also in the form of maquillage which is in use today. Although presently Khaji is applied only on some occasion, festivals, marriage and while performing dance. From the mythical tales, the traditional lore of Buguns affirms that AcchinPhumphulwa was the creator of all the living creatures on earth. They regarded him as the almighty master of the universe. It was also believed that the Sun Sherbet or shebey and the Moon Moi Sunthaumua was the prominent creator of the humans on the earth and were regarded as the ultimate deity who controlled the natural phenomenon. As Levis-Straus considers tales as the 'miniature myths'. But he was very specific on the question that their relationship was not that of anterior to posterior, of primitive to derive. It is rather a complementary relationship.3 The tales and myths are however inevitably interconnected within the community. The traditional beliefs have been associated with the myths which people had been following ever since. Buguns celebrate numerous festivals with great pomp and gaiety. Existence of the tribal's in the sphere would be incomplete without the feature of festival in their life. Nearly most of the festivals and rituals of the tribes have been connected to the agricultural practices.
The Buguns, one of the indigenous tribe of Arunachal Pradesh was also regarded as one of the least numbered tribe in terms of population residing in West Kameng District. People are settled mainly in the subtropical Tenga Valley, Singchung, Jamiri areas of Thrizino circle. Like any other tribe of the state they followed animism. They reverenced the Sun, Moon, Trees, Mountains, Hills, and Rivers. People also worshiped the unseen malevolent and benevolent deities. There have been various myths and beliefs linked with their religious system. The system empowers them to perform distinct ritual and sacrifices to satisfy these deities on respective occasions.
Diying kho, Kshyat Sowai, Mathung Tsabo and Pham Kho are some of the major festivals celebrated by distinct respective communities. The festivals have multifarious traditional and religious values. It enforces the objectives of unity among the people with the feeling of fraternity and brotherhood. This paper emphasises on Diying kho festival celebrated by Buguns of Singchung village.
The state has never witnessed idol worship in the society yet the existence of totemic formation has its importance. Buguns considered Shiniya a totem of supernatural monolith structure as their worship area. It is the ritualistic means which people follow in terms of the group kinship. This solemnised order gives a person enormous strength towards his faith. Buguns are very much attached towards their religious belief system. A community however big or small have always stood to protect their oneness and always fought to maintain their identity.2
Diying kho is one of the major festivals celebrated by the Buguns residing in Singchung village (also known as Braidua Thap in the past). It was celebrated annually on the third of February and continued for seven days. Diying kho meant worshiping river Diying (Tenga) by the people. The river has been worshipped since ancestral period for better irrigation, good harvesting and for the affluence of the village people. They devoted to the river deity against draught and flood, and to ensure to safeguard the life of the people. The festival had been associated with these naturalistic girdles.
However to manifest their traditional identity the tribe has been applying a black coloured paste known as Khaji fabricated from the oil of pine tree mixed with burnt ashes. Both men and women applied it for decorative and beautification purpose on their face and body, with the help of a small bamboo stick different marks and shape of flowers were made on forehead and cheeks of the people. It was also applied over the lips.
In Singchung village people celebrates the festival in a much organised way. There have been various customary pace attached for the celebration. Preparation starts by selecting an open area Sram or Sraiba by the priest Phabi where all the people gathered together. A temporary ritual hut would be constructed in the Sram for the priest to reside until the celebration got completed. The things required in the festivals were Khuk (Shield) two, Junder (Spears) two, Fhuan (Flags), Chhok (Load) filled with Uanh Yun (Fish) and the other are phuathun
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International Education & Research Journal [IERJ]
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