Popir Dance

Popir is the principal folk dance of the Galo people (and closely related Adi sub-groups) of West Siang and Lepa Rada districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

It is danced exclusively by women, in slow synchronised steps that mimic the planting and harvesting of rice.

Popir is part of the Donyi-Polo (Sun–Moon) animist tradition of the Tani peoples and is danced at Mopin, the Galo new year and agricultural festival.

Mopin was formally institutionalised as a state festival in 1967 and has since become the largest gathering of the Galo community.

The Galos are a Tani-speaking community, closely related to the Adi, Nyishi and Apatani.

The dance is led by the Nyibo priest who chants invocations to Mopin Ane, the goddess of prosperity.

• Women wear the galuk — a white sleeveless robe — with the gale skirt and beaded necklaces.
• Faces and arms are smeared with etting (white rice paste) as a symbol of purity and goodwill.

• Mopin — celebrated 5 April every year across Galo villages.
• Solung — Adi harvest festival in September.

• Aalo (Along), West Siang district — main Mopin celebrations.
• Basar, Lepa Rada district — host of the popular Basar Confluence (Bas-Con).
• Itanagar — state-level Mopin celebrations.

A curated gallery of Popir Dance. Images are placeholders until license-cleared photographs are sourced.