Volume-XI, Issue-II, March 2025 |
Jihang: The Poison Ritual Festival of the Himong Tribe (Adi Tribe) of Arunachal Pradesh: A Decaying Indigenous Knowledge System of Sustainable Living Practice Ms. Miti Taying, Research Scholar, Dept. of NSS, Rajiv Gandhi University, Papum Pare, Arunachal Pradesh, India |
Received: 21.03.2025 | Accepted: 30.03.2025 | Published Online: 31.03.2025 | Page No: 389-400 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.02W.037 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
This paper highlights the indigenous practice of the “Jihang” festival of Himong sub-tribe of Adi tribe residing in Arunachal Pradesh. Himong sub-tribe is a native of Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh and their total population is approximately 10,000 or more. This paper intends to highlight the decaying indigenous knowledge system of the Jihang- The Poison Ritual Festival of the Himong Tribe (Adi Tribe) of Arunachal Pradesh. The Jihang festival is a significant cultural and religious celebration of the Himong tribe. It is very much deep rooted in the tribe’s traditional beliefs. The festival marks the gratefulness of the Himong people towards nature, their ancestors, and spiritual deities. This ancient festival, celebrated with reverence and mystery, is centered on the collection and utilization of a potent poison called ‘emo’ and they are found in the colder region away from Simong village in Upper Siang district. The Himong tribe has identified the ‘emo’ and has developed the use of this poison. And this knowledge is passed down from generations to generations. In ancient times, these poisons were used in wars, battles, hunting and rituals. Moreover, it involves elaborate rituals, traditional music, dance performances and communal feasting. The Himong tribe claims that the ‘Emo’ is one of the deadliest poisons found in the entire Adi belt. The festival serves as a vital occasion for social bonding and the preservation of indigenous customs. It also highlights the tribes’ deep connection with their environment, reflecting their reverence for nature and sustainable living practice and also reinforces the Himong tribes’ cultural identity to the broader world. The researcher collected and analyzed the data through indigenous perspectives and field survey. In this backdrop, the paper also underlines implications for future research and practice. Keywords: Culture, Emo, Himong, Jihang, Poison, Rituals, etc. |