The 56th Central Tamla-Dü Festival of the Mishmi community concluded in Tezu, Lohit district, with a three-day celebration marked by ceremony, culture and spiritual fervour. Home Minister Mama Natung, the chief guest, praised the community’s preservation of indigenous faith and formally honoured 446 Mishmi priests for safeguarding centuries-old traditions, while a permanent pandal at the festival ground was inaugurated to strengthen infrastructure for future events.
Held at Khoraliang in Tezu, the festival drew senior figures including Dr. Emi Rumi, president of the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), and Chow Noseng Manpang of the Tai Khamti Development Society. Natung, who also holds the Indigenous Affairs and PHED portfolios, described Tamla-Dü as “more than a festival,” calling it a profound celebration of faith, nature and ancestral heritage.
Natung specifically commended the Digaru Mishmi community living near the Indo‑China border for keeping their customs and spiritual practices alive across generations. He paid tribute to the 446 priests as custodians of largely unscripted indigenous knowledge and moral guidance, underscoring their role in maintaining social and spiritual continuity.
The programme featured vibrant cultural performances, elaborate spiritual rituals and traditional dances that reflect the community’s reverence for Mother Nature. A major highlight was the Tanggong Dance, presented as a living symbol of ancestral wisdom and the cultural mosaic of Arunachal Pradesh.
Rituals at the festival included homage to Lord Jebmalu and Amik Matai, reinforcing the community’s inseparable bond between spirituality, nature and daily life. The newly inaugurated permanent pandal (a dedicated festival pavilion) at the Tamla-Dü ground was intended to provide a lasting venue for future observances.
Reaffirming government support, Natung assured continued institutional backing to safeguard indigenous faiths and to uphold the dignity of traditional religious leaders so these cultural traditions can continue to flourish authentically. Similar Tamla-Dü observances were reported in Hayuliang, Anjaw district, led by Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul, with Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao attending as a guest.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/arunachal-pradesh/video/arunachal-home-minister-hails-mishmi-community-at-56th-tamla-du-festival-in-tezu-1346616-2026-02-15?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-02-15 19:56:00
