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



                                                                         PRESS RELEASE



CHINDANG FSTIVAL

BOMDILA:-The Chindang festival of Miji tribe of West Kameng district is going to be observe from 13th to 16th October 2002 in different part of the district. It is solemnized just before the commencement of harvest season. Mr. Roshan Dijo, President, Chindang Festival Committee, Bomdila giving the background of the festival informed that Chingdang
means the offering in ritualistic manner to the almightily God for the cause of well being of the community. It is a kind of
greeting to the blessing from the Gods and Goddesses. The festival is performed to better harvests and prosperous life.
Substantiate offerings are offered to seek divine powers for protection and desist the evil spirits who are the prime causes of
diseases, epidemic and natural calamity. During the celebration, the priest and his attendants perform offering through chanting
rituals to appease each and every divine power, i.e. Gods of river, cliffs, trees, waterfall and mountains. On the other hand
the youths performs traditional song and dances accompanied by drums and clappers. It is one of the most important festivals of the Mijis. The Mijis live in the valley of the Bichom River, to the north of the Hrusso territory. There is a tradition that long ago they live in the plains ad later migrated to the mountains. In general the society is patriarchal, patrilineal and patrilocal. Polygamy is quite common among them. The Mijis practice shifting cultivation and, in addition, animal husbandry and hunting and fishing. Their religion is mostly confined to the scarification to the spirits and might be termed as 'animistic'.

                                                         ATUM POTOM,
                                                        DIPRO,BOMDILA