Solung festival

Itanagar, Sep 01: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has conveyed his heartiest greetings on the auspicious occasion of Solung festival with the message – Solung Giidi-Em Takamem Agampe!

Hailing the spirit of the Adi community, mainly inhabiting the central districts of the state, for jealously preserving their age-old culture, Khandu said that the festival of Solung is the epitome of their love and a connection with their roots.

“I join my Adi brothers and sisters on this joyous occasion and I pray the Divine ‘Kine Nane’ and Almighty ‘Dadi Boteh’ to bless everyone with bumper harvest, peace, prosperity, and happiness,” he said in a message this evening.

Khandu reiterated that indigenous festivals like Solung should spread the message on the importance of passing on the indigenous culture to the next generation, who have to inevitably face the onslaught of modernization.

“Let our festivals encourage our youngsters to embrace our rich culture and learn and speak in our native tongues. Our languages are our first connection to our culture,” he emphasized.

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What is the Solung festival?

The Solung festival is a popular agriculture festival celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh by the Adi tribe. The festival is celebrated at the beginning of September every year, after the sowing of the seeds, to seek a good harvest and prosperity.

The celebrations of the Solung festival last for five days and are divided into three parts: Sopi-Yekpi, Binnayat, and Ekop.

The first part of the festival, known as Sopi-Yekpi or Ardo-Bado, is the inaugural day during which pigs and mithuns are sacrificed and offered to the god of domestic animals, Dadi Bote.

The second part of the Solung festival is Binnayat, where the goddess of food and crops, Kine Nane is worshipped.

In the last phase of the festival, Ekop, the lead singer, also known as Miri, narrates the story of Abotani or Nibo, the forefather of the Adi Tribes.