ITANAGAR, Sep 1 - Solung, the major festival of the Adi community, was today celebrated across Arunachal Pradesh with traditional gaiety and religious fervour.
Clad in their best traditional attires, Adi males and females, young and old alike, thronged the Solung-Mopin ground here in large numbers to celebrate the socio-religious festival.
The festivities got off to a ceremonial start with Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa joining the ritual called �Taku Taabat�, a traditional offering of rice powder and apong (rice beer) at the makeshift altar erected in the festival ground amid chanting of hymns by the Miri (priest), brought in all the way from Adi-Pasi village in Upper Siang district.
On the occasion, the Governor offered his prayers to �Kine Nane�, the Goddess of Crops and Prosperity, �Dadi Bote�, the God of Animal Kingdom, �Doying-Bote�, the God of Wisdom and all other benevolent deities to shower their blessings to entire mankind and herald peace, progress and prosperity for one and all.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor called upon the youths to take the responsibility in carrying forward the rich cultural heritage of their community.
He also had the words of advice to the people to converse in their own languages and dress in traditional attires and take pride in it. He said that people should modernise but not at the cost of their cultural roots.
Citing that there was no detailed records of all 26 major tribes and 110 sub-tribes of the State, the Governor called for documentation of the languages, customs and traditions so that their rich cultural heritage handed down from generation to generation was not lost.
State�s first journalist-turned-lawmaker Gabriel D Wangsu, who was the guest of honour, urged upon the community members to take the initiative in safeguarding their age-old cultural heritage and traditions.
Cultural troupes, including Ponung parties, from different parts of the State performed folk dance numbers amid light drizzles. Other highlights of the celebration were the release of Solung souvenir �Diigok Rooli� by the Governor, Solung-yokya (traditional game of tug-of-war) between female members of Ponung Raasengs and elder abus (senior male citizens) and distribution of prizes and trophies to the winners of Solung volleyball and football tournaments organised to mark the festival.
The festival was also celebrated at Naharlagun, Pasighat in East Siang district, Yingkiong in Upper Siang and Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district with traditional gaiety.
