DREE AN INDIGENOUS FESTIVAL OF APATANI TRIBE

The Apatanis,who inhabit a tranquil pine clad valley called Ziro at the core of Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh, are famous for their unique practice of wet rice cultivation.They are also known for their sustainable agricultural practices and the agricultural cycles govern their everyday lives. The agricultural festival of Dree is the highlight in this cycle.

Mythological aspects

In the beginning, humans wandered around foraging for food. It was Anẁ̀ Donw and Abba Lwbo who began cultivation in the fertile lands of Wpyo supuñ. Thus Anẁ̀̀ Donw was the first human to start a settled life while Abba Lwbo was the first to start cultivation.
With the first batch of spades – Turú dipe and the first batch of machetes – Twgyó ilyo’, bushes and vegetations were cleared from large tracts of land. Invoking the winds from the north and the south, the leavings were burnt. Next, the soil was prepared for sowing.
Plots of agriculture were ready, but no paddy seeds were available. So, the search for the seeds begun. In the process, Anẁ̀ Donw and Abba Lwbo reached Murtú Lembyañ from where they obtained the seeds of pyapiñ and pyare varieties of paddy along with the seeds of cucumber and corns from Murtú Yariñ. Something was still lacking and the search continued. When Anẁ̀ Donw and Abba Lwbo looked into the stomach of the wild rats it was full of grasses and herbs while that of the wild boar was full of salyó and sankhe’. However, it was in the stomach of the dilyañ kubu – the field rat that they found the seeds of empu and elañ varieties of paddy. They trailed the field rat with the help of a dog and finally located the source of the seeds. At a place called Hirẃ Lyandiñ, the paddy seeds were found stuck high above on the branches of Hirẃ Tanguñ tree, along with tayú and tagyá – varieties of bees. Thus, the empú and elañ were obtained from Hirẃ Anẁ.
All the varieties of paddy – pyapiñ and pyare, obtained from Murtu as well as empu and elañ, obtained from Hirẃ were originally obtained from Hintẁ Anẁ.
When Anẁ Donw and Abba Lwbo set out to sow the seeds in Wpyo Supuñ, rains and storms came to disturb them. They overcame them, equipped with baskets of tasvr and rain guards of tarpì. Then, Anẁ Donw and Abba Lwbo were constantly disturbed in their cultivation works and their life made miserable by a demon named Pyokuñ Pembò Pyoyi Tadù. This demon was finally eliminated with great efforts but their struggle was far from over. From the stomach of Pyokuñ Pembò Pyoyi Tadù emerged swarms of insects, pests and rice eating birds. They attacked the crops in the fields which led to poor harvest, and subsequent hunger and famines.
It was in order to counter the menace of insects, pests and diseases, and to alleviate the impending hunger and famines that a series of rituals were observed in the month of Dree. Achí Kharw or Dulu Talañ Myama Pwkha was the first priest, who was assisted by a committee called the Dree Pontañ. This committee consisted of Huli Gorì Hula Gora – the village committee, Huní Mitur Huna Mikiñ - the learned and wise village elders, Kharw Khatw - the high priests and Gwtú Gwra - the general public. They collected voluntary donations from every household to meet the requirements of the Dree rituals.
Pyodu Au and Dree Yarw are believed to be the forces that cause scarcity of food and bring hunger and sufferings to humanity. The damage caused to crops by insects and pests, together with hunger brought by Pyodu Au and Dree Yarw lead to famine. Thus, the Dree rituals are observed to ward off these forces during June–July, corresponding to Dree Pwlo of the Apatanis. During the taboo period that follows, celebration of victory over evil forces takes place. This is how Dree festival came to be celebrated.
Dree rituals are the Tamù, Metẁ, Medvr and Mepiñ. The Tamù is propitiated to ward off the insects and pests. The Metẁ is propitiated to ward off epidemics and other ailments of the human beings. The purification ritual of Medvr is performed to cleanse the agricultural fields of unfavorable elements. This series of rituals is concluded with Mepiñ, which is performed to seek blessings for healthy crops and well being of mankind. In the modern Dree, the Danyi is also propitiated for fertility of the soil, abundance of aquatic lives in the rice fields, healthy cattle and for prosperity of all human beings.
In the olden days, each village performed Dree rites separately at their respective villages on different dates as per the convenience of the village level organizing committees. It was in the year 1967 that the senior students of Apatani society led by Shri Lod Kojee organised the Dree centrally at a common ground at Swlañ Ditiñ for the first time. Since then, celebration during taboo period takes place centrally with fun and gaiety. Competitions of wsañ - high jump and gwbw – traditional wrestling for youths are organised, while the ladies engaged themselves in damiñda - folk dance competition. The elders exhibit their knowledge with ayú and bwsi competitions.
While the modes of celebration have changed with time, the original rituals started by the ancestors in Wpyó Supuñ are meticulously followed till this day and the objective of the festival remains the same – for a healthy crop, a bumper harvest and overall prosperity of mankind.