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: 371-382 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.02W.036 | |||||||
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. |