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.