ITANAGAR, Feb 2: Donggin festival of the Adi Bori community was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour in the State capital here today, reaffirming the community’s commitment to preserving its cultural identity and heritage.
Gracing the celebration as chief guest, Itanagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Likha Nari Tadar urged the people to uphold their heritage, cautioning that many aspects of tribal culture are endangered by modern influences. She called upon the younger generation to play an active role in carrying forward the unique identity of their society and also advised the youth to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings.
Adi Ba:nè Anè Kèbang president Yamek Mize Taggu, the guest of honour, emphasized the importance of using local dialects in daily life, cautioning that neglecting native languages could lead to cultural erosion.
Festival Celebration Committee president Hanggung Yaying highlighted Donggin’s agricultural roots, noting its purpose of celebrating the wellbeing of humankind.
Secretary Games & Sports Prem Yaying shed light on the festival’s mythology, explaining that in earlier times Donggin encompassed several festivals—Mopun, Geneh, Liih, and Tapu—which have now been merged into a single celebration observed annually on February 2nd.
Vibrant folk dance performances by Rasengs (women groups), showcasing the rich cultural traditions of the Adi Bori community, marked the celebration.