music Arunachal Pradesh Dance and Music
Music & dance are
an integral part of every festival and occasion, taking place in Arunachal
Pradesh. Every festival is celebrated with much fun & fair, which also
includes music and dance. The music and dance of Arunachal Pradesh are
generally performed in groups, in which both men & women participate.
The Music & Dance
of Arunachal Pardesh
The Dance of Arunachal
Pradesh
Dance forms an important aspect of the socio-cultural heritage of the people of
Arunachal Pradesh. The people of Arunachal dance on important rituals, during
festivals and also for recreation. The dances of the people of Arunachal are
group dances, in which both men and women participate.
There are some dances such as igo dance of the Mishmi priests, war dance of the
Adis, Noctes and Wanchos, ritualistic dance of the Buddhist tribes, which are
specifically male dances. Females are not allowed to take part in these dances.
Experience the Dance
& Music
Some
of the popular folk dances of the people of Arunachal Pradesh are Aji Lamu
(Monpa), Roppi (Nishing), Buiya (Nishing), Hurkani (Apatani), Popir (Adi), Pasi
Kongki (Adi), Chalo (Nocte), Ponung (Adi), Rekham Pada (Nishing), Lion and
Peacock dance (Monpa) and so on. Most dances are performed to the accompaniment
of songs sung generally in chorus. Musical instruments like drums and Cymbals
are played along with the songs sung for the dances.
Music of Arunachal
Pradesh
The themes of songs sung are like fables involving creatures or the animal and
words signifying moral deduction. The folksong of Pailibos are related more to
their folk history, mythology and description of their known historic past.
Following are the
chief folk songs of Arunachal, sung on different festivals and occasion :
Ja-Jin-Ja : On occasion of feasts
and merriment, during marriages or other social meets, this song is sung. Both
men and women sing it in chorus or individually. But once the song starts, all
those who are present join them in singing.
Baryi : It is a song which
narrate their history, their religious lore and mythology. Its whole cycle
takes hours to complete. It is also a feature of festivals or of occasion of
important social or religious gatherings.
Both Ja-Jin-Ja and Baryi produce a nostalgic feeling in Pailibos, as the
glories of the past ancestors are narrated through them.
Nyioga: It is sung when a
marriage ceremony is concluded and the bridal party returns leaving the bride
in her home. The theme is that of the joy. It contains pieces of advice to the
bride for her future life. | art
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Arunachal
Pradesh is a land of beautiful handicrafts comprising a wide variety.
Artistic craftsmanship has been passed on from one generation to other. A
wide range of crafts such as weaving, painting, pottery, smithy work,
basketry and wood carving flourish. From the viewpoint of the art and
culture the state may be very conveniently divided into three zones. The
first of these zones includes the Buddhist tribes; the second occupies the
central part (from east Kameng in the third zone is the south eastern part
of the territory.
The people of the first zones make beautiful masks. They also periodically
stage pantomimes and masked dances. They also make exquisite carpets,
painted wooden vessels and silver articles. Those of the second zone are
expert workers in cane and bamboo. They weave articles that are in common
use in their daily lives. The shawls and jackets, shoulder bags and coats
all stand for the perfection that the people have attained in this art. The
people of the third zone are famous for their wooden carvings. They weave
beautiful bags and loin cloths too. Goat's hair, ivory, boar's tusks, beads
of agate and other stones as well as of brass and glass are the specialties
of the people of this zone.
Weaving
Weaving is the occupation of the womenfolk throughout the territory. They
have an excellent sense of color. The basic colors that dominate the weaves
are black, yellow, dark blue, green and scarlet - all put together in the
most fascinating combinations. Originally natural dyes were used which
today have given way to synthetic dyes. The designs are essentially
geometric varying from formal arrangement to lines and bands. Items that
could make excellent buys are sherdukpen shawls, Apatani jackets and
scarves, Adi skirts, jackets and bags, Mishmi shawls, blouses and jackets;
and Wancho bags.
Cane and Bamboo works
The cane and bamboo industry of the state has made a name for itself. As a
matter of fact most of the domestic requirements are made of these
materials. Hats, baskets, cane vessels, cane belts - woven and plain,
bamboo mugs with carvings, a wide variety of ornaments and jewelry items
are all crafted by workmen.
Carpet Making
A specialty of the Monpas, the Buddhist community, is carpet weaving, with
exotic designs of dragons, geometric and floral patterns. Carpet weaving
has today become a major occupation of the womenfolk and with an increase
in demand, production of the carpets is now being undertaken on a large
scale.
Wood Carving
Wood carving is a tradition with some of the tribes of the state. The Monpa
wood carver scoopes out beautiful cups, dishes and fruit bowls and
magnificent ceremonial masks for dances and pantomimes. Another tribe that
is famed for this art is the Khamptis who carve out beautiful religious
images, figures of dancers, toys and other objects.
Ornaments
Crafting ornaments is another art widely practiced by the Arunachalis
besides multicolored beads, feathers of birds and wings of the green
beetles are also used as embellishments. The Akas make bamboo bangles ear
rings which are occasionally decorated with pocker work designs.
Other Crafts
Paper making, smithy work, carpentry, pottery and ivory work are the other
crafts practiced by the Arunachalis. The Mongpas make paper locally, from
pulp of trees called Sukso or the paper trees. This hand made paper is used
for writing religious prayers on them. Hunting, fishing also form the
subsidiary occupations.
These are some of the traditional crafts of the people of Arunachal
Pradesh. There are many more minor arts such as pocker work, doll making,
ivory work etc. Practiced in different parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
With a view to help developing arts and crafts and to substantiate the
livelihood of the people, local boys and girls are imparted training in
specially set up craft centers. The rich heritage of arts and crafts of
Arunachal Pradesh is sure to add color to the cultural heritage of the
country.
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| dance
The dances performed
by the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, have been broadly divided into four types,
viz: Ritual Dances, Festive Dances, which forms the recreational part of a
particular festival. Then are the Recreational Dances, which do not form part of
any particular festival or ritual, but are performed on occasions which inspire
its participants to express their mirth through these dances. And the last
types are the Pantomimes and Dance-dramas, which narrate a mythical story or
illustrate a moral. Thus, the most prominent folk dances of Arunachal Pradesh
are as follows:
Wancho Dance
Wancho Dance belongs
to a perticular tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. According to the name of that
tribe, "Wancho" the dance is named. This dance is preformed only in
special occassions like festivals and ceremonies.
Khampti Dance
The Khampti Dance is
basically a folk dance performed by the Khampti Comminirties. Khampti dances
are based on some mythical stories. These are drama based stories, which have
some hidden lessons for its viewers.
The Buiya Dance
The Buiya dance of
Digaru Mishmis is performed on any festive occasion which have the purposed for
the prosperity and good health of the performer and his household.
Ponung Dance
Ponung
dance is the famous folk dance of Adi tribal people. This is the women dance.
The purpose of this festival is seeking a good harvest and welfare of the
village community. This dance is performed on all-important & auspicious
occasions |
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