Solung is the most popular festival of the Adis of Arunachal Pradesh which is celebrated on September 1 every year. Though primarily an agro-based festival, it also reflects the socio-religious features of the people.
There are three main parts in the celebration of this festival. They are:
I. Sopi---Yekpi ( also called Limir-Libom), the first part and the sacrificial day;
II. Binnyat, the second part, the ritual offering to goddess of crops, Kine Nane, and
III. Ekop (also called Taktor), the ritual made for protection against harms by evil spirits by appeasing to Gumin-Soyin, the household guardian, and Doying Bote, god of wisdom and human welfare.
Ardo-Bado is the sacrificial and inaugural day in Solung celebration. According to the Sopi-Yekpi Aabang(the lyrical rhapsody of Adi myth and belief of creation), Mithun or Eso is the first animal to appear in the world whichDadi Bote, god of domestic animals, nurtured and gifted to human beings.
Mithun, a valuable possession of the people, symbolizes prosperity of both individual and the society. It is also considered a holy animal by the people and, therefore, occupies an important religious significance. They pray toDadi Bote for his kindness to them and appease him for bestowing good fortune to them and also for safety of all domestic animals.
Binnyat, the second part of Solung, is the ritual offering made by women-folk to goddess of crops, Kine Nane in fields for protection of crops against epidemics and bestowing of bumper harvest. Aabangs describe it isKine Nane who gifted crop seeds to humans in the beginning and gave them the knowledge of performing of festivals. On this occasion people acknowledge their gratefulness to Kine Nane and solicit her for boons of family welfare and prosperity.
Binnyat, therefore, highlights peoples’ age-old attachment with cultivation and their aspirations for economic self-reliance.
Ekop or Taktor is the last phase of celebration during which the Miri, the singer leader, narrates the story ofNibo or Abotani who was the forefather of the Tanis. The story describes Nibo’s early struggle for existence and his endeavor to overcome the forces of evils, symbolized by Robo, his elder brother; moral and spiritual guidance ofDoying Bote, the god of wisdom and human welfare and Gumin-Soyin, the guardian spirit, and finally Nibo’sestablishment of family and social life in the beginning of life.
People offer rituals for protection against possible harms by evil spirits and pray to Doying Bote and Gumin-Soyin for bestowing peace and welfare and good fortune during this day.
Main highlights of the festival are performing of religious Ponung dance performed by girls in evenings led by the Miri, the singer of Aabangs, who narrates the epic myth through his songs.
People perform various rituals and make offerings to gods and goddesses during the celebration. They also present gifts of meat and Apong (rice beer) to neighbours and relatives thus cementing family and social relationships.
Another feature of this festival is care and protection of animals which are vital components of their family and social life. Merry-making and feasting also form a part of this celebration.
In brief, Solung is a reflection of the community’s enduring cultural, socio-economic and spiritual values and aspirations which have a universal characteristic even in this modern age.
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