Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Jun 18: The All Arunachal Pradesh Priest Welfare Association (AAPPWA) has voiced its strong support for the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 (APFRA), stressing the need to preserve and promote indigenous faiths, rituals and cultural traditions in the state.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, AAPPWA president Tatung Tagar said indigenous belief systems are an integral part of Arunachal Pradesh's identity, culture, customs and traditional way of life.
The association urged the state government to take immediate steps for the effective implementation of APFRA, stating that safeguarding indigenous faiths is essential for preserving the state's unique heritage for future generations.
Expressing concern over the gradual decline of traditional rituals during Nyokum Yullo celebrations in some parts of the state, Tagar emphasized the importance of preserving sacred chants, prayers and ceremonial practices performed by experienced indigenous priests.
“Nyokum Yullo is a major agrarian festival of the Nyishi community, celebrated annually on February 26 for the wellbeing of agricultural and horticultural produce and to ward off epidemics,” he said.
The association appealed to Nyokum Yullo celebration committees across the state to ensure the active involvement of senior indigenous priests and the proper conduct of customary rituals during festival observances.
Warning that neglecting these practices could lead to the erosion of indigenous identity and cultural heritage, AAPPWA said traditional rituals embody ancestral wisdom passed down orally through generations.
The association also opposed recent demands for government honorariums for Christian priests and fathers in the state. It maintained that indigenous priests are the original custodians of Arunachal Pradesh's traditional faiths, customs and cultural heritage, and argued that any policy concerning honorariums for religious functionaries should prioritize indigenous priests dedicated to preserving ancestral traditions.
AAPPWA further appealed to the government to formulate a comprehensive welfare policy for indigenous priests, including official recognition, preservation of traditional knowledge systems, cultural promotion initiatives and financial assistance for elderly priests serving their communities.
Reaffirming its commitment to the protection and promotion of indigenous faiths and traditions, AAPPWA called upon indigenous communities, civil society organisations and the government to work collectively towards safeguarding the state's ancestral heritage and cultural identity.