Itanagar: The Apatani community across Arunachal Pradesh marked the Dree Festival this Sunday. Ziro Valley and Itanagar hosted the biggest crowds for the event. This annual festival runs from July 4 to July 7, focusing on agricultural prosperity and human welfare.
Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak served as the chief guest at the 37th Hong Dree Festival in the Lower Subansiri district. The day kicked off with the Dree Anthem and flag hoisting. Priests performed ancient rites to protect the land from famine. They also honored top students and local leaders for their work.
Tai Tagak spoke to the crowd about keeping traditions alive for the next generation. He warned that abandoning customs means losing one's heritage. He stated, "Our identity is rooted in our culture. If we lose our culture, we lose our identity."
Festivities included folk dances like the Daminda and Pri. Attendees enjoyed community feasts featuring traditional beer and cucumbers. Seven visitors from Spain joined the celebrations this year. They praised the Apatani hospitality after witnessing the local customs.
The event highlighted the history of the tribe, including the story of traditional facial tattoos. Families once tattooed women to prevent abduction by neighboring tribes, a practice that ended in 1972. Today, the Ziro Valley remains famous for its sustainable rice farming and deep ties to these ancient agricultural cycles.
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