People gear up for the annual event from the month of March where the women folk start preparing apung to the near and dear ones on the occasion. Popularly known as Apung, the alcoholic beverage is an inevitable part of the festival which takes for a couple of days. The male folks get busy with making bamboo cups to serve the home made rice beer. Even the tourists who thong the festival venue to catch a glimpse of it cheerfully share the Apung with the local people. Mithin, the most auspicious domestic animal is killed in the festival and in many places the male folks take back the blood drops to their homes. The festival in the hills state bears striking resemblance to the holi festival of the Hindus. The Galo revellers apply ette to each other’s face when the festivity gathers momentum much to the delights of the tourists. Ette is made of rice flour is one of dominating item during this festival. These formalities are apart from the mesmerizing traditional Galo sings and dance including the crowd pulling popir dance which is performed in a very elegant manner.
Mopin Festival
Location
Arunachal Pradesh, the abode of nearly 200 ethnic tribes is known for festivities. Hardly a month is allowed to pass with a festival that upkeeps the traditional cultures and traditions. Apart from its natural beauty and bounty, the land of the rising sun witnesses huge footfall of foreign and domestic tourists because of these colourful events. Mopin is one of the hundreds of festivals in the north eastern state where the Galo tribe make it an occasion to focus their rich and age old manners and customs, cultures and traditions. Festivities grips East and West Sing districts where these people reside. The spring festival takes place in the first week of April which falls in the Lumi and Luki months of the Galo calendar year. They worship Mopin Ane for prosperity and wealth. The religious formalities are believed to have been driving away all evil forces.
