GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
                                     DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION PUBLIC RELATIONS & PRINTING
                                                                        // NAHARLAGUN //

NO.IPR(PR)-86/20020                                                            Dated Naharlagun, the 7th January 2004


                                                                         PRESS RELEASE

DAPORIJO:-  THE MOST POPULAR FESTIVAL OF THE TAGIN COMMUNITY OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH, SI-DONYI WAS CELEBRATED ON 6TH JANUARY LAST WITH TRADITIONAL GAIETY AND FERVOUR IN ALL PARTS OF THE UPPER SUBANSIRI DISTRICT . AT DAPORIJO THE CIVIL SUPPLY AND CONSUMER AFFAIR MINISTER SRI KAPA BENGIA GRACED THE OCCASION AS THE CHIEF GUEST AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER GOKEN BASAR AS THE GUEST OF HONOUR. THE PWD MINISTER SRI LECHI LEGI AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER SRI TANGA BYALING GRACED THE OCCASION AS THE CHIEF GUESTS AT TALIHA AND SIYUM RESPECTIVELY.

Si-Donyi Festival at Naharlagun
Hon. Minister Shri Tadic Chiji paticipateing in Si-Dony festival at Naharlagun

SPEAKING ON THE OCCASION SRI KAPA BENGIA APPEALED TO THE TAGIN COMMUNITY TO RESERVE, PROMOTE AND REFORM THEIR RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CAUTIONED THEM NOT TO BE INFLUENCED BY EXTERNAL ELEMENTS. SRI BENGIA EMPHASIZED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION AND ADDED THAT PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN BY EVERY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER, ALL NGOS AND THE GOVT.

AS A WHOLE. SPEAKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND UTILITY OF THE FESTIVAL MR KAPA BENGIA SAID THAT THE SI-DONYI FESTIVAL COULD BE OBSERVED CENTRALLY BY ABOTANI GROUP AS THE NOMENCLATURE SI-DONYI AND ITS MEANING IS COMMON TO ALL THE TRIBES OF THE ABOTANI BELT. SPEAKING ON THE OCCASION DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, SAID THAT STRONG CULTURAL IDENTITY IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL ASSET IN THIS WORLD AND HENCE TRADITIONAL CULTURE SHOULD BE PRESERVED AND PROMOTED AT ANY COST SRI BASAR ADDED. AT DUMPORIJO ER. T.GONGO ACE GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH GRACED THE FESTIVAL AS THE CHIEF GUEST .

MORE THAN 30 PONUNG TROOPS PARTICIPATED AND CULTURAL VARIETY SHOW WERE HELD FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL WERE VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL COMPETITION ETC.

( JAMBEY TSERING )