Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

Major communities of Arunachal Pradesh

• Monpa

  Where:

  Tawang and West Kameng districts — Tawang, Dirang, Thembang, Sangti

  Language:

  Monpa dialects (Tibeto-Burman, Bodish group); Tibetan used liturgically

  Livelihood:

  Yak and sheep herding, buckwheat and maize, weaving, woodcraft, Buddhist monastic economy

  The Monpa follow Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelug school and are linked to Tawang Monastery, the largest in India. Thembang is a fortified dzong village on UNESCO's tentative list; Sangti valley is known for its winter black-necked cranes.

• Apatani

  Also written: Tanii (self-designation)

  Where:

  Ziro valley, Lower Subansiri district — Hong, Hija, Bamin-Michi and neighbouring villages

  Language:

  Apatani, a Tani (Tibeto-Burman) language

  Livelihood:

  Wet rice cultivation with fish reared in the same fields, bamboo and pine groves, millet

  The Ziro cultural landscape is on UNESCO's tentative list for its intensive, irrigated valley agriculture managed without draught animals or terracing machinery. Myoko in March is the great inter-village friendship and fertility festival; Dree in July is the agricultural rite.

• Nyishi

  Also written: Nishi, Nyisi

  Where:

  The state's largest community — Papum Pare, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi, East Kameng, parts of Lower Subansiri

  Language:

  Nyishi, a Tani language

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, hunting historically, now horticulture and government service

  Nyokum Yullo, held in February, is the Nyishi festival of invoking Nyokum for prosperity of land and people. The Nyishi community's shift away from hornbill-beak headgear to fibreglass replicas, led from within by community and church leaders, is one of India's better-known conservation stories.

• Adi

  Also written: Padam, Minyong, Pasi, Komkar and other sub-groups

  Where:

  Siang belt — East Siang, Upper Siang, Siang districts; Pasighat, Mebo, Damro, Komsing

  Language:

  Adi, a Tani language

  Livelihood:

  Wet and jhum cultivation, cane and bamboo work, river fishing

  Adi villages are governed by the kebang, a village council with real authority in local disputes. Solung, in September, is the principal agricultural festival. Damro has one of the longest hanging cane bridges in the Siang valley.

• Galo

  Where:

  Aalo (Along), Basar, Kabu, Darka — West Siang and Lepa Rada districts

  Language:

  Galo, a Tani language

  Livelihood:

  Jhum and wet cultivation, cane work, community forestry

  Mopin, celebrated in early April with the dusting of rice powder and the popir dance, is the Galo festival of purification and prosperity. Basar's community tourism initiative is among the state's older village-run tourism efforts.

• Tagin

  Where:

  Upper Subansiri district — Daporijo and its surrounding valleys

  Language:

  Tagin, a Tani language

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, mithun rearing, river fishing

  Si-Donyi, held in early January, honours the earth and sun as the two forces the community depends on. Daporijo is also the meeting point of Tagin, Galo and Hill Miri areas.

• Idu Mishmi

  Where:

  Dibang valley — Anini, Roing area

  Language:

  Idu, a Tibeto-Burman language of the Mishmic group

  Livelihood:

  Terrace farming, mithun rearing, weaving, forest livelihoods

  The Idu Mishmi are known for fine geometric weaving and for igu shamans who conduct the community's major rites. Idu belief attaches strong protection to the tiger, which is considered a brother in origin narratives — a taboo that has helped conserve wildlife in the Dibang valley. Reh, in February, is their principal festival.

• Nocte

  Where:

  Tirap district — Khonsa, Borduria, Namsang, Laju

  Language:

  Nocte, a Tibeto-Burman language of the Konyak group

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, tea in the foothills, cane and bamboo

  Chalo Loku, in late November, marks the end of the harvest across Nocte villages and is celebrated over several days with dancing at the chief's house and gates. Borduria and Namsang retain chiefly houses of the old Nocte polity.

• Wancho

  Where:

  Longding district — Wakka, Longding, Kanubari

  Language:

  Wancho, closely related to Konyak and Nocte

  Livelihood:

  Jhum cultivation, woodcarving, bead and cane work

  Wancho villages are led by a Wangham chief, and the community is respected for woodcarving and elaborate beadwork. Oriah in February–March is the main spring festival. Wancho history includes headhunting, ended in the mid-twentieth century; it is discussed here as historical fact, not as spectacle.

• Tai Khamti and Singpho

  Where:

  Namsai and Lohit districts — Chongkham, Namsai, Bordumsa area

  Language:

  Tai Khamti (Tai-Kadai family, written in the Lik-Tai script) and Singpho (Tibeto-Burman)

  Livelihood:

  Wet rice cultivation, tea, monastic and craft work

  The Tai Khamti follow Theravada Buddhism and maintain golden pagodas at Chongkham and Namsai; Sanken, the water-pouring new year in April, is their major festival. The Singpho are credited with the earliest recorded indigenous tea use in Assam and Arunachal.