ITANAGAR, July 5 - Dree, the annual agriculture-based festival of the Apatani community of Arunachal Pradesh, was today celebrated across the State, including their homeland, the Ziro plateau, with traditional pomp and gaiety.
Braving heavy rains, large numbers of festival revellers, including men and women and the young and old, thronged the Dree ground at Papu Nallah near Itanagar in traditional attire to celebrate the festival.
Wishing all a happy Dree on the occasion, the chief guest, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein commended the Apatani community for jealously upholding their cultural identity handed down by their forefathers through the ages.
He said that due to the efforts in keeping their traditions and culture alive, the Ziro Valley is known all over the world today and many tourists from across the globe come to see the valley.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that the State Government would provide all help to enable the Apatani cultural landscape in the Ziro Valley to be declared a World Heritage Site.
Hailing Arunachal Pradesh as a hub for research scholars due to its rich and diverse culture and traditions, Mein said that the State Government has kept budgetary provisions for research and documentation of the unique tribal culture and traditions.
Making a mention of the present technology and innovations, the Deputy Chief Minister called upon the youths to use them to their advantage in a more positive way. He urged them to make use of Internet platforms like YouTube and the social media for promotion and publicity of local cultures, scenic beauties and beautiful landscape to give a fillip to tourist visits in the State.
Former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who was the special guest on the occasion, praised the Apatani community for contributing immensely towards the progress of the State. Appreciating the Apatanis� agricultural practices including paddy-cum-fish culture, cultural advancements, etc., Tuki said the community has contributed immensely towards human resource development in the State.
Citing the joint peace initiative by the Tanw Supun Dukun (the apex council of Apatanis) and Nyishi Elite Society (the apex body of the Nyishi community), Tuki said that it has emboldened the sense of fraternity and cultural affinity between the two tribes.
Advocating preservation and promotion of cultural traditions, Tuki also asked the youths to stick to their culture and traditions and learn more about their cultural roots from their elders. Chief patron of the festival committee and Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso also addressed the gathering.
The major highlights of the celebration were presentation of Dree mythology in the form of a drama by artists, performances of �Pree� dance, multi-tribe dance and the most popular folk dance �Daminda�, release of a Dree souvenir, and felicitation of meritorious students and other young achievers by the Apatani Career Guidance Forum. Reports of celebration of the Dree festival were also received from Ziro, Tezu, Roing and Khonsa.
