Photo- Polling Competition

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Caption Writing Competition

Hello friends!!! Here is something different this from Safar_Itanagar. Write captions for these two pictures and best three captions will get something exciting.

                                     

'Show Your Skills and Caption This'

Nyokum Festival

Nyokum is a festival which is celebrated by the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. The Word Nyokum is made up of two words - Nyok means land (earth) and Kum means collectiveness or togetherness. Nyokum festival is celebrated as inviting all the gods of the universe, with the Nyokum Goddess as the principal deity at a particular venue at a particular time. The festival is usually celebrated by the people from all class and walk of life for better productivity, prosperity and happiness of all citizenry on earth.

Nyokum celebration (Photo by Chandramouly Pandey)

Significance of Nyokum
The festival features a close link with cultivation. Nyokum goddess, the goddess of prosperity is invoked for her blessings in order that there could also be more and more production of food-grains within the next harvesting season, that the visit of famine could also be warded off, which drought or flood might not hamper cultivation, nor should any insect or animal destroy plants and crops. The Goddess is invoked in order that the humanity could also be strengthened and regenerated. All should be free from epidemic, unnatural death and war.

Rituals
The main prayer structure of the Nyishi is formed of bamboo, called the yugang. Alongside the yugang sacrificial animals are tethered. Like cows, mithuns, and goats. Often one finds small chickens hung from bamboo tree of the yugang. The nyubh or the normal priest specifies the amount and sorts of animals for sacrifice, or the other offering to be made. There are not any idols during this worship. Neither is there any permanent structure. Besides the animal sacrifice, beer made up of millet seeds and rice paste is employed.

Men and women in their traditional dress (Photo by Chandramouly Pandey)

People happen wearing their traditional clothes during this point. The lads dress during a cotton eri robe draped from the shoulder and reaching the thighs. From their neck hangs a spread of bead jewellery necklaces. Precious stones like turquoise adorn these necklaces. The men's attire is topped by a bamboo woven cap on the top. This cover is decorated with feathers or furs of untamed animals. The beak of the hornbill may be a favorite ornament for the normal cap. the ladies also dress in their finery of par ej, earrings bead necklaces, topped with a headdress made from finely scaped bamboo.

Hope You guys are enjoying the second phase of Safar with Safar_Itanagar which is focuses on Nyokum and Nyishi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.

Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

Going through various places at Itanagar, I found that people do belong to Arunachal, but have different festivals, different language, different outfits and most importantly – Different tribes. Yes, being a largest state among the seven sisters it is a house of around 20 tribes. These are Adis, Apatanis, Buguns, Hrusso, Singphos, Mishmis, Monpas, Nyishi, Sherdukpens, Tagins, Khamtis, Wanchos, Noctes, Yobin, Khambas, Membas, Aka, Miji, Bori, Bokar, Galo etc. Itanagar is a Nyishi dominating area but being a capital city, I observed that all the major tribes does exists in the city.

When Interacted with different people of different tribes, I got the idea of the specialties of different tribes. Different tribes have a different tradition, different beliefs, different festivals etc. Let’s have a look at the major tribes of state.

Man in Nyishi dress (Photo by Chandramouly Pandey)

Nyishi Tribe: The Nyishis are the largest groups of people inhabiting in the state. The men of this tribe keep their hair long and tie it in a knot just above the forehead. They wear cane bands around the waist. This tribe believes that after death, the spirit of a dead travels to the village of the ancestors.

Adi Tribe: By nature, the Adis are democratic and organized. Their village council is called Kebang. Their villages are usually situated on the spurs of hills. Adi women are very good weavers.

Apatani Tribe: The Apatanis are settled agriculturists. They inhabit the valley around Ziro -the headquarters of Lower Subansiri district. They are good cultivators and practice both wet and terrace cultivation.

Tagin Tribe: The Tagins are main inhabitant of Upper Subansiri district. Agriculture is their main occupation.

Hrusso Tribe: They were related with the Ahom Kings. They have a custom of painting their face with black marks. The Hrusso is mainly involved in the trades of cloth, blankets, swords, etc.

Singpho Tribe: The Singphos reside on the banks of Tengapani and Noa Dehang rivers. They are agriculturists and expert blacksmiths. The Singpho women are good weavers.

Wancho Tribe: The western part of Tirap district, bordering Nagaland, is inhabited by the Wanchos. The law and order of the society is maintained by a village council. Tattooing is a social custom among them.

These are the major tribes of the state, hope you will be continuing with me in this “Safar” of ‘Safar Itanagar’.

Inner Line Permit

Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the concerned state government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period. It is obligatory for Indian citizens from outside those states to obtain a permit for entering into the protected state. The document is an effort by the government to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India. Despite the fact that the ILP was originally created by the British to safeguard their commercial interests, it continues to be used in India, officially to protect indigenous communities cultures in Northeast India. There are different kinds of ILP's, one for tourists and others for people who intend to stay for long-term periods, often for employment purposes.

Map of Arunachal with check gates to enter in the state

In Arunachal Pradesh it is issued by the secretary (political) of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. It is required for entering Arunachal Pradesh through any of the check gates across the interstate border with Assam or Nagaland. An ILP for temporary visitors is valid for 7 days and can be extended, while one for those taking employment in the state and their immediate family members is valid for a year. The Arunachal Pradesh government is planning to implement a permit-on-arrival system.

ILP

How to apply for ILPIndian tourists need an Inner Line Permit (ILP). This is available by applying online at this website or from any Government of Arunachal Pradesh in office in Delhi, Kolkata, Tezpur, Guwahati, Shillong, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur and Jorhat. In addition, ILP Facilitation Centers operate at Naharlagun Railway Station, Gumto Railway Station, and Guwahati Airport in Assam. These centers issue ILPs on arrival.

Steps to apply for e- ILP

Foreigners require a Protected Area Permit (PAP). The permit requirements were relaxed in 2008 and only two or more people need to travel together (instead of four). However, according to a further government directive issued in 2014, single foreign tourists can now obtain PAPs to visit Tawang, Bomdila, and Ziro.

For more information contact - 

State Council For IT And e-Governance
Department of Information Technology
Government of Arunachal Pradesh
Maung-Phi Complex. ESS Sector
Itanagar-791113
Ph.:- 155250
E-mail:- nodal.eilp@gmail.com

How to reach Itanagar?

In the previous blogs, you all visited various tourist destinations in Itanagar with me. After all, we all got the idea that Itanagar, being the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh is a mixture of cosmopolitan, natural beauty, religious places and history. Now the question is - How to reach Itanagar?

Here is detailed information which I'm sharing with you all which will help you to guide to reach Itanagar.

Google Map (Itanagar)

By Bus

There are various buses available to Itanagar from various places of Assam. Guwahati is the hub city from where you can catch buses for Itanagar. Various travel agencies like Blue Hills Travel, Network Travel, Green Valley Travels etc. along with all this there is a Arunachal Pradesh State Transport (APST) services which provide daily service from Guwahati to Itanagar.

By Train

Arunachal was connected to railway map in the year of 2015, when PM inaugurated the 20KM railway line from Harmuti to Naharlagun. Naharlagun railway station is around 22KM away from Itangar which is the nearest railway station. Trains services are available from New Delhi twice in a week (Sunday and Thursday) and Shatabdi Express (alternative) and daily Intercity Express from Guwahati.

Naharlagun Railway Station (Source - Google Images)

By Air

Lilabari in Assam is the nearest airport at a distance of 67KM. There are connecting flights to Guwahati from Lilabari. Flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad etc. operate to Guwahati.

Pawan Hans operates helicopter services from Guwahati to Itanagar thrice a week Kolkata is the nearest international airport at a distance of 760KM. Naharlagun Helipad is situated at A - Sector Naharlagun around 20KM from Itanagar.

Naharlagun Helipad (Source - Google Images)

The Fort of bricks - Ita Fort

Ita Fort is a brick fort located in the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar. As every tourist the same question occurred in my mind too – Why Ita fort? Let Explore!
Soon I get to know that, as the name suggest ‘Ita’ which means bricks in Assamese and ‘Nagar’ means city – the city of bricks. It is one of the most important historical sites of Arunachal Pradesh. Ita fort is protected by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). 

Ita Fort (Photo by Chandramouly Pandey)

The structure of Ita Fort dates back to 15th century. The fort was built by King Ramachandra, one of the most prolific rulers of the Jitari dynasty. The fort was deliberately built in an irregular shape to confuse the invaders. There are three large entrances to the fort, which are quite beautiful. It was built at the top of a hill, so that intruders will have to walk long tiring route in order to reach at the top. The southern gate of the fort, gives the idea about the long thick walls which helps them to protect from the trespassers. 

Ita fort - Western Gate (Photo by Chandramouly Pandey

The stone work of the Ita Fort at Arunachal Pradesh covers an area of 45 cubic meters and around 80 lakhs of bricks were required to erect the structure of the fort during that era. Interesting facts about the fort is that almost 45,000-man days were used to build this fort. The fort has three different entrances at three different sides, which are western, the eastern and the southern sides.
Now the fort is nothing more than the ruins. The remains many ancient artifacts from this ancient fort have been shifted and are neatly displayed in the state museum – Jawaharlal Nehru Museum located around 2KM from Ita fort.

Ita Fort Southern Gate (Photo by Chandramouly Pandey)

How to reach?
Southern gate of the Ita fort is located at the Bank Tinali, Itanagar at NH-415 and the western gate is located at around 1.35KM away from the southern gate at the hill top. You can hire a taxi or an auto which will help you to reach Ita fort. 

Timings are from 8 AM – 4 PM, it is huge fort so you have to walk a lot to cover and enjoy the architecture of the fort.

Entry Fee - INR 10 for Indian and 50 for Foriegners.