The Adi community in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang district celebrated Solung festival on September 1. 

What is Solung festival?

• Solung is the most popular festival of the Adis of Arunachal Pradesh which is celebrated on September 1 every year. 

• Though primarily an agro-based festival, it also reflects the socio-religious features of the people. 

• They present gifts of meat and Apong (rice beer) to neighbours and relatives thus cementing family and social relationships.Another feature of this festival is care and protection of animals which are vital components of their family and social life. 

• The word “So-lung” has been derived from two words, E(so) – Bros fontalis/Mithun, main animal sacrificed during the festival and (lung) meaning group (herds of mithun) of Esos. 

• Esos (Mithuns) are sacrificed and Ponung (folk dance) is performed.

Ponung dance

• Ponung dance is one of the most famous dances of the Adi community. 

• Ponung dance is guided by one man called a Miri. He holds a Yoksa which is a sword loosely fitted at the hilt and shakes it to make a rattling sound during the dance. 

• The women gather around him in a beautifully arranged pattern repeating the same lines in the chorus initiated by him and move around in unison following the rhythm of the song. 

• The delicate hand movements of the women and the traditional attires worn during the dance are mesmerising to look at. The women dancers wear a traditional piece of skirt called Gale, traditional top or blouse (Galup) and a Gale placed in a conical shape on the head along with beautiful ornaments like the Gol Pota (a small necklace made of coins and red beads), Madoli (a necklace made with black beads and a crescent shaped ending), Nok (a silver ornament that goes down from the shoulder to the hips), Tampilang (a long silver necklace made with coins), Sumbi/Humbi (a belt worn under the Galup), Sondorong (a long silver ornament made with beautiful patterns on it) and tadok (necklace made with colourful beads). 

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