tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24134965487429881042024-11-01T03:36:38.616-07:00Random nothings on little known facts about Ziro. Weaving a Ziro of Our Dream as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-3231256981831491502010-09-21T05:23:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.893-08:00

A decade back, when the talk was going on to donate the historical Tadu Dobi to establish a school, I suggested that the place be developed into a public park instead. There was no taker. The Apatanis did not have much sense of leisure. It has been all work. It is unusual, therefore, when a little known organization, run by a lone woman, started a fish pond, where people could spend some time

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-91174345810172021062010-08-24T07:26:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.921-08:00

These are the people who keep the world going, propitiating the God of Abundance for a bumper crop every year.They are the Dree Nyibus from different Apatani villages. They made Dree 2010 at Ziro happen this year. May their tribe thrive!

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-7942057274886745272010-07-12T07:45:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.914-08:00

Leprosy has always tormented humans and has been feared and misunderstood. The disease has been considered a curse and a punishment from God. Leprosy patients, therefore, have been stigmatized and shunned. Leprosy isolation settlements had, thus, sprouted throughout the world.Tayiñ Lañpii in the grazing grounds of Reru village was such an isolation settlement catering to leprosy patients in the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-76792093086791434752010-07-02T23:01:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.910-08:00

As the traditional agriculture struggles to survive, various commercial farmings have been started at Ziro these days. One of them is kiwifruit, introduced a few years back. Not that the fruit is entirely new; its wild variety has been savored by the local people as long as they can remember.The picture above is one of the many fairly large scale cultivations started at Ziro. This is located at

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-72959487851258131022010-06-30T20:24:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.905-08:00

Life was good. Abotani had good harvests every year from his aji at Liiha Poñtañ. One year, however, Abotani noted that the yield had decreased. It decreased further the next year. As usual, Abotani turned to Aba Liibo and Ane Donii for advice. Aba Liibo and Ane Donii examined the field. Their faces became gloomy. “What’s the matter, my Lord?” Abotani asked with a worried expression.“Dree is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-25573890673178160612010-06-30T09:44:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.888-08:00

Abotani was tired. It had been a long day. He did not get much food today, though he had trekked through several hills. He had to forage for food everyday. He had to survive.Lying down beside the fire, an idea struck Abotani, “I could plant the seeds of the food at one place. I won’t, then, have to go from place to place.”As the cocks crew early next morning, he took this idea to Aba Liibo and

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-80318605604173909512010-06-26T07:16:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.918-08:00

Monsoon is here again. When the paddy crops start growing, it used to be time for different varieties of goñchi (dragonflies) to flitter around. The beautiful lañchañ goñchi, agile byago takho, proud yaju piikho and the king of all, the magnificent apañ kemañ. There was then the itu pumiñ, the smallest of all but so light-footed that it was a big challenge to catch any of them, and the dui goñchi

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-14841862373874166132010-06-18T11:48:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.884-08:00

Tiirii tiipe pa paYapiñ tiipe pa paNyachu piñpu pa paGoñpii tiipe pa paPakii giilyu, giilyu, giilyuThe Apatani children used to grow up with the playful voices of their mothers singing this rhyme while mockingly putting tattoo (tiipe) on the face of the child, starting from the forehead (tiirii), nose (yapiñ) and the chin (goñpii) with her finger. Finally, she would tickle the child's chest

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-47349125070579227522010-05-19T17:20:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.899-08:00

Dreams and shadows. Mirror images.While climbing the gentle slopes of North Mountain in Pendleton County (West Virginia) today, I felt like I am still trekking in the Talle Valley photographing sugar pines and rhododendrons as I was doing last month. It is yellow pine here, though.And pink rhododendrons!In any corner of the world, Ziro never cease to haunt me.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-75423038612005161622010-05-10T08:22:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.908-08:00

A concrete tablet I found somewhere at Ziro.It is the message that matters more!

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-17663706070290913832010-05-02T09:18:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.887-08:00

Flowers like Neha apu and sanji apu have always played major roles in the lives of the Apatani people. Love for beauty, and so for flower, seems to be growing. Floriculture has made an entrance at Ziro.The one shown in the picture is located in the Bamiñ Rañtii between Hapoli and Old Ziro. Good collection of various ornamental flowers - almost all pot flowers. I could not see any cut flower, cut

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-74385299591393561052010-04-26T09:42:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.907-08:00

The Apatanis have always practiced multicropping in their paddy fields. Bulyu, tasiñ, ngiiyi amii and chunyi have always been harvested. These can be said to be the harbinger of the present day paddy-cum-pisciculture.The practice got a major boost with the establishment of the Regional High Altitude Fish Seed Farm at Tarin near Ziro. Till recently this picturesque site was the most popular picnic

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-15430658545841220582010-04-16T00:51:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.885-08:00

Hiibiñ: Largest of the species in the area, but smaller than the Apatani bamboos at Ziro. Size of bije binyi. Larger ones can be flattened into yamyo, but not strong enough as poles.Yana: Smallest one. Most abundant. Makes trekking very difficult as it 'creeps' on the ground. Tader: Strongest. Its shoots are sprouting up now. As tasty as those of the Apatani bamboos at Ziro. These are the bamboo

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-33734057222340704322010-04-13T21:08:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.896-08:00

Its green all around now. There are splashes of red and white on the green canvas. Rhododendrons. It is too early for the yellow ones and blue ones. They will bloom by next month, may be. This is Talle Valley again.It is a pleasure to see and taste the talle after which the place is named. The leaves are broader than the talle found at Ziro. Taste is similar but milder. The plant is said to grow

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-30251865141672326202010-04-03T08:37:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.891-08:00

When a mother is getting ready to leave for the fields, the child cries, insisting that she wants to go with her. "The field is very far, my child," the mother cajoles. "Play at home and I will get neha apu for you." Just as the fathers brought Sanji apu from the jungle, the mothers brought neha apu from the fields. The flower was used for making bagañ rinyo used to decorate one's ears.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-33528047627573086562010-03-27T07:32:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.894-08:00

The seed beds - midiñs - are turning from black to yellow to green these days at Ziro. It won't be long when the growing paddy plants will be taller and ready to be transplanted in the fields. In the meantime, the fields are filled with water and getting ready for the next season of agriculture.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-84894052073933168532010-03-16T10:04:00.001-07:002013-01-09T18:29:01.919-08:00

It is springtime again at Ziro. Takuñ apu, señbo apu and piita apu are doing wonders again. Red, white and pink.It is time to rejoice with nature.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-36705390212595087992010-03-04T09:33:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.898-08:00

It is not fog. It is not due to impending rain. It is an indicator that the Myoko festival is not far. Murpa sai, the characteristic hazy look in the horizon is so unique at Ziro. No wonder it is unique, as Myoko is unique at Ziro. Unlike other festivals like Dree which is celebrated all over the country, Myoko can be celebrated only at Ziro. Murpa sai, along with takuñ apu and señbo apu, is one

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-80266221229168221052010-03-02T07:41:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.916-08:00

Last few years have seen a renaissance of indigenous faith all over Arunachal Pradesh. In the central belt of the state, also called the Tani belt, inhabited by the tribes following the Danyi-Piilo or Donyi Polo, a number of prayer houses called Meder Nello or Nyedar Namlo are being constructed. This is one such in Tajang village at Ziro. Though not appreciated by all, these Meder Nellos are

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-77378396883485367652010-02-25T04:14:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.911-08:00

Ziro is a uniquely beautiful place. Just an hour's drive down the serpentine road towards south, one can feel the difference in temperature. Same is the fact for driving northwards and westwards. Only the Talley Valley in the east is at an higher altitude than Ziro. Because of its altitude, Ziro has a unique vegetation - pine trees, carefully tended bamboo gardens. And permanent wet rice

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-78430421471378491162010-02-11T05:21:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.913-08:00

I came across these old photographs taken during 1971.This is that of a group of Adi girls in the Higher Secondary School. The building looks much better than it is now. The other one is also some Adi girls and other artists from other parts of the country in some village. It is difficult to make out just from a few houses.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-54141388208938406052010-01-21T09:48:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.901-08:00

The Pange river is known for its abundance of fishes. That apart, It is today the seats of the forest range officers - both wildlife (of Talle Wildlife Sanctuary) and territorial (Hapoli Forest Division). Pange is located at a small valley formed by the Pange river and is 7 kilometers from Manii Polyang. A fair-weather road connects it to Hapoli. It is more fun trekking to the Pange camp than to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-26501097328373457972010-01-18T03:52:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.890-08:00

When Pengu Miilyobo fell, the various parts of his body were scattered all over the Ziro valley. I had a chance to visit again the place where his head and chest lie.This monolith, believed to be the head of the mighty Pengu Miilyobo, is commonly known as the Supyu Yalañ. Much water has gone down the Supyu Kiile which quietly flows beside this stone, but it has not changed as far as I can

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-5649491345181617032010-01-15T09:14:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.902-08:00

First there were plans to establish the summer capital of Arunachal Pradesh. Then an attempt to build a helipad. Talley Valley has weaved many dreams, all unrealized till today. In fact, the plan to establish the summer capital, more than twenty years back, was carried out in real earnest. The road was built during that time, and it was actually the only time vehicles reached the valley. Some

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2413496548742988104.post-72629824411309527212010-01-11T23:02:00.001-08:002013-01-09T18:29:01.904-08:00

Subu and Muruñ are two occasions which are perfect examples of the people turning a crisis into an opportunity. One may have these occasions as any other ritual to propitiate the God, but they are always observed with an air of festivity. Other reason for performing these rituals, especially by a person who has done well in the society, may be a kind of thanks giving. The main features of these

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0