Preparation works have been completed for the three-day Guru Divas (Lambona Longa) organized by Central Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang (CDPYK) in collaboration of Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Arunachal scheduled to begin on Friday. Arunachal Pradesh Governor B D Mishra will grace the inaugural function of the three-day festival. He will unveil the 20-feet high statue of Golgi Bote in Central Gangging premise on Friday.
Meanwhile the celebration committee has completed erection of Golgi Bote-Talom Rukbo’s statue, construction of exhibition stalls and hall for delegate accommodation in the Central Donyi-Polo Gangging premise at Pasighat.
The organizers have invited all believers of indigenous faith & culture across the region to witness the occasion and enjoy the Ethnic Food Festival, Folk Music Art, and Apparel Show during the festive occasion.
The Central Donyi Polo Gangging premise at Pasighat is wearing a festive look as the CDPYK has taken step for protection of their ancestral faith and myths on Donyi-Poloism, which was modified in organized form by Golgi Bote Talom Rukbo during late nineteenth century.
The Arunachal Government last year created Department of Indigenous Affairs in order to protect and preserve tradition and cultural ethos of the indigenous tribes of the state.
Donyi-Polo is the designation given to the indigenous religions of animistic and shamanic type of the Tani and other Tibeto-Burman peoples of Arunachal Pradesh and some parts of upper Assam in north-eastern India.
The term “Donyi-Polo” means ‘Almighty God’ and was chosen for the religion to keep the tribal people belonging to “Tani” group integrated through its revitalisation and institutionalisation.
The religion has developed a congregational system, hymns to be sung composed in the Tani ritual language of shamans, a formalised philosophy-theology, iconography of the gods and temples.
Donyi (Sun) and Polo (Moon) in symbol —which are, respectively, female and male in the Tibeto-Burman tradition; called Ane Donyi (“Mother Sun”) and Abo Polo (“Father Moon”)—constitute a notion similar to the yin and yang of Chinese culture.
It is the analogy through which the Divinity (Sedi) can be described representing the way in which the divine principle manifests itself, that is — eternally veiling, unveiling and then revealing himself in nature; providing harmony and balance to the nature.