A Small Tribe In Arunachal Pradesh Is Showing How Man And Nature Can Co-exist In Perfect Harmony
In terms of environmental preservation, a small tribe in Arunachal Pradesh that lives in a little valley has managed to outwit contemporary technological achievements. The Ziro Apatanis lead a distinctive way of life that emphasizes coexistence with nature. This article will take you to their homes and give you a glimpse into their lifestyles, which are straightforward, tranquil, and unusual in the modern world.
Ziro is a little, charming valley buried away in Arunachal Pradesh’s lower Subansiri district. Off the beaten tourist track in Tawang, this small valley and its inhabitants have much to offer travelers looking for stunning uncharted terrain and a fascinating culture.
The Apatanis, one of the very few tribes in the world that worships nature, are a tribal group that call Ziro home (Sun & Moon). Apatanis are renowned for their distinctive approaches to social forestry and sustainable farming. Apatani Cultural Landscape was also added to the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in April 2014 for its “very high productivity” and “unique” methods of ecological preservation. In the Ziro village of Hong Basti, I had the chance to stay with one such Apatani family and gain insight into their way of life.
The fields of rice
The Apatani people are predominantly farmers. They are renowned for the effective and sustainable techniques they have used to grow rice. Due to the flatness of the farmlands, wet rice farming and pisciculture are practiced. Millets are also grown on the elevated partition bunds that separate rice areas. Their fields are distinctively defined by effective canals and channels for irrigation. Instead of using farm animals or machinery, only environmentally friendly and sustainable methods are used.
Additionally, they have been able to preserve the trees that surround the valley, which act as water storage for the streamlets that run into the fields and aid in the irrigation system. There is far too much to learn from them about how they employed conventional techniques to accomplish goals that contemporary tools and systems were unable achieve!
Around the rice fields are forested areas.
They reside in Bastis, which are crowded villages made up of very basic bamboo homes built atop vertical wooden stilts. The majority of the homes in Hong Basti were traditional, but a quick stroll around adjacent villages like Hari and Siiro will reveal hints of more substantial, brick and mortar-like buildings emerging. Despite this, one of the examples that made me reconsider our consumerist way to living was these basic yet perfectly acceptable furnished homes. The hub of the home doubles as a gathering place for people to chat and discuss issues as well as a kitchen where food is prepared over a wood fire. Family members and guests gather around the fire in the center, where it is lighted, to talk, watch TV, listen to music, or just to spend time together.
Inside the Ngunu Ziro Office of the NGOs
A typical day in a Ziro village can start as early as 5:00 a.m., when all the adults leave for their farms after finishing their morning duties and the kids head off to school. From late morning till dusk, the entire hamlet appears to come to a standstill, with only a few women engaged in traditional clothing weaving or walking to the fields. Being on the eastern part of the nation, depending on the season, the sun can set as early as 4:30 p.m. Due to this, all evening activities conclude at 4-5 pm, which is also when everyone returns to their homes, goes for a walk, meets up with friends and neighbors, and lets kids play in the village’s open spaces.
Wood Fire at the Home’s Center
Every evening after sundown, our hosts welcomed their neighbors and relatives, most of whom would just drop by to say hi, and gave them Tapyo, a local rice beer made at home with unique Apatani salt. Apatanis have historically manufactured tapyo at home using the ashes of specific indigenous plants, which is largely to thank for sparing them from the goitre problem, which is otherwise a serious problem in other adjacent tribes. Now, of course, everyone has addressed this issue thanks to the widespread availability of iodized salt. Freshly brewed rice beer is more of a communal activity, which led to debates and insights into the Apatanis’ way of life. Politics, environmental protection, love marriage trends, and music were just a few of the topics covered in those evening sessions.
Brand-new rice beer
Women with face tattoos and nose plugs are another distinctive aspect of Apatanis and are perhaps the ones that tourists photograph the most. There is no established explanation for how the tradition was started, but the younger generation no longer adheres to it. Even many women in previous generations have chosen to stop using nose plugs.
Rice is the staple food in a traditional Apatani household for obvious reasons. Rice is frequently served with boiling vegetables, meat dishes, or other delights that have been prepared in bamboo shoots. Traditional Apatani cuisine uses extremely few spices, which is why every meal includes a green chilli.
Fortunately, my trip took place during the March Myoko festival. It is an annual event that lasts for a full month and celebrates friendship and joy. It usually begins around March 20th. Every year (on a rotating basis), a few villages come together to hold this festival. This event is special in that the homes of the host communities are open to visitors every day of the month. Anyone can enter, welcome, and enjoy rice beer and regional foods! In addition to feasting, there are numerous sporting events, singing contests, theatrical performances, etc.
a view of the community Despite Ziro’s sweetness and simplicity, there are undoubtedly some issues as well. Infrastructure amenities are lacking, such as good roads and a drainage system. Only the public sector offers employment opportunities, and because there are only so many seats there, young people are increasingly moving to neighboring states. There is a need for a local government-like entity to maintain cleanliness in the towns and public spaces. There is still more to be done in the areas of sanitation, environmental conservation, and recycling despite the efforts of several local NGOs like Ngunu Ziro.
Post-winter harvest in Ziro Valley
Visit Ziro for a wonderful chance to see a scenery with lovely forests, undulating hills, and rice fields. Ziro is also the home of a distinctive culture that has inspired people all over the world with its example of how to successfully coexist with nature.
How to Get There: Ziro is accessible from Guwahati, Itanagar, and North Lakhimpur through shared taxis (Tata Sumos), buses, or private vehicle rentals at a distance of 167 kilometers from the state capital Itanagar. Guwahati also boasts the closest airport.
What is the ideal time to go? Ziro has a cool climate all year long, with chilly months of December and January. However, September, after the rainy season, is the finest month to visit for the lush green rice fields. Additionally, this is the time of year for the renowned Ziro Music Festival, where great musicians from all across the nation congregate to perform, camp, and have a good time.