By Pankhuri

The Dree Festival is one of the most significant cultural events for the Apatani tribe, a prominent tribal community in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The festival marks an essential moment in the agriculture cycle and is celebrated on the fifth day of the lunar calendar in the month of July. This emphasizes their deep-rooted connection with their land and nature. The tradition of Dree highlights the Apatani community’s rich heritage, values, and dependence on agriculture for sustenance, reflecting a beautiful blend of spirituality, culture, and environmental protection.

The origins of the Dree Festival are hidden in myth and tradition. As per local folk tales, the festival originates from necessity. According to local folk tales, the festival stems from the need to propitiate various deities who reign over agricultural prosperity and protect crops from pests and diseases. The Apatani tribe believe that their agricultural land is sacred, and the deities look over their wellbeing. Thus, this festival set out an opportunity as a ritual of thanksgiving for the earlier harvest and a prayer for the upcoming crops. During Dree, offerings are made to various gods and goddesses, including the revered deity Dree, to seek blessings for a successful harvest.

As the festival approaches, the entire community engages in vast preparations. The event is very much a community affair, with families and groups from the Apatani Tribe coming together to plan and take part in the various rituals and activities related to their festival. They clean their fields and decorate them. The vibe of festivity is felt in the air. Their tribe’s traditional cuisine is cooked, mainly rice and meat, in addition to other locally grown vegetables. Craftsmen and artisans also get an opportunity to display their crafts, creating a unique environment of celebration.

The festival begins with offerings to their deity, including food, rice, and other food items. This particular ritual is called Ari. The reason behind their sacred ritual is the belief that God will protect their crops from all kinds of insects and natural mishaps. The ritual is followed by a prayer song showing gratitude for the last harvest. The Apatani people have also modernized their celebrations with changing times, but their traditional values are still inculcated.

With men and women all dressed in their finest traditional dresses adorned with intricate jewellery, members of the Apatani tribe take part in group dance and tell their folklore related to their culture and history. This is another beautiful chapter of the Dree festival. The dances often accompany traditional musical instruments like drums and flutes, generating rhythmic and zestful surroundings. Such a scenario, in addition to enjoyment, also helps to strengthen cultural recognition and promote a feeling of belonging in the people.

A famous folk song sung during the Dree festival is

Dree, Dree, rangtangbuni,

Thar nange, nyirbuni, 

Buna angne, hirinane, 

Nangrenane, arangyari.”

”Yani lonya, heejini, 

Nyeh haji, nyir dang bini, 

Jangnihunda, herihuni, 

Mai minyo, we celebrate together.”

The song roughly translates to:

“Oh, Dree, Dree, our fields are green, 

Bless our harvest, pure and serene, 

Let the crops grow high, free from despair, 

With love and protection, we sing our prayer.”

“In the morning light, we gather nearby, 

With hearts full of joy, no trace of fear, 

Our hands in the soil, working as one,

Together, we celebrate until the day is done.”

Traditional sports, such as wrestling and archery, are also played during the festival. Such activities contribute to competition and adventure and also bring the community closer.

Community bonding is another key feature of the Dree festival. The celebration aims to bring the community members closer. Even those who have shifted elsewhere come to join the celebration. It gives them an opportunity to reconnect and reinforce their relationships.

The relationship between the Apatani Tribe and nature is also showcased during the celebration. The rituals performed during the festival highlight their subsistence agriculture practices. The Dree festival not only honours the present support of nature but also teaches the community to preserve and protect it for future generations.

Now, the Dree Festival is attracting visitors from outside their community, including researchers and tourists who are interested in gaining knowledge about their culture and festivities. This has certainly encouraged boosting their local tourism and the economy. But it also presents challenges for them to protect their traditions and the purity of the land in the backdrop of modernisation. The Apatani people are increasingly aware of balancing the retention of their cultural identity while sharing their vibrant traditions with the world.

In conclusion, the Dree Festival is an exquisite tapestry woven with spirituality, culture, community, and agriculture threads. It proves that the Apatani community has a close connection with nature and, at the same time, highlights their colourful practices. Their vibrant traditions, such as cuisines, craftsmanship, dances, songs, sports, etc., are all showcased here in addition to the agricultural cycle. It highlights how the Apatani tribes continue to stay rooted in their culture amidst the changes of the modern world. The festival remains a vivid reflection of their past, present, and aspirations for the future, embodying the richness of their culture and the timeless connection to nature