Reh Festival

Have you ever heard of the Idu Mishimis? They are one of the most colourful tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. These people in the land of rising sun are known for their culture and tradition and festivals provide them the best opportunity to retain their unique identity. Their most vaunted festival is Reh to be dominated by puja offering feasts, song, dance and what not.

The five day annual event keeps them no less festive. The event is basically a puja to appease the goddess Nanyi Inyitara for their well-being. But they make it a platform to send a message to strengthen the emotional brotherhood and bonhomie and understanding among the people of all tribes.

Apart from preparing rice beer two or three months before the celebration, they invite their friends and relatives sending a letter which is called 'Tayi'. It is counted by knots on a string and each knot is cut off as a night passes on, one after another. The invitees arrive in the festival venue when two knots remain.

The festival begins with 'Andropu' to be observed with puja to appease the presiding deity to help them celebrate the event peacefully. Mithuns are kept to be sacrificed. Towards the evening the people perform their traditional dance.
The second day is called Eyanli where buffalos and mithuns are sacrificed before entertaining the guests with feast of rice, meat and rice beer. The drops of blood of the sacrificed animals are sprinkled in the fields for bounteous crops.

Then comes the third day. Popularly known as Iyili, on this day the people make it an occasion for a huge feast of meat and rice beer. Rice and meats are sent to the neighbouring villagers if they fail to attend the event. This is followed by IIirumunyi on the fourth day where the distant guests start departing the venue.

The concluding day is called Awru haa where the priests leave the festival venue. Cash and pigs are gifted among the friends and relatives.