Oriah Festival is celebrated in the state of Arunachal Pradesh by the tribe of Wanchos which will take place on 16th February. It’s a village society where the village chief plays a vital role and worships natural Gods like Sun and Moon. It is celebrated to please the Gods and seek peace and harmony.
In this festival, men and women get dressed in traditional attire and exchange bamboo tubes of rice beer that acts as a symbol of greeting and goodwill. They also sacrifice animals like pigs, buffaloes, and sing and dance around a ‘Jangban’. IT’S a ceremonial pole planted during the festival.
The 2018 edition of the Oriah Festival is expected to receive a footfall of 15 thousand. The key attractions of the celebrations will be the following programs:
• Folk Dance Competitions
• Hip Hop dance in traditional style
• Photo Gallery
• Flock Songs Competitions
• Cultural Night
• Traditional Attire Gallery
Singing and Dancing by the Wancho Tribe
The Wancho tribe has been living in the state since time immemorial and this festival is an important occasion for these people to honor their culture. The main aim behind the celebration is to preserve their valuable traditions. The main idea behind the fest is to appease the Nature Gods for providing a life full of peace and prosperity and the fulfilling agricultural produce.
In the first phase, an animal is sacrificed to evoke the local deities and in the second phase, people offer prayers. The interesting part of the celebrations comes later when the people wearing traditional dresses sing and dance in circles.
The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu has conveyed his best wishes to the Wancho tribe on the auspicious festival. He also emphasized on the wholehearted participation of all in the indigenous festivals like Oriah. He lauded the Wanchos for maintaining supreme expertise in textiles, handicrafts, and traditional wood carving.
