| Si-Doni -Tagin Festival
It is the most significant festival of the Tagins and is celebrated in
January. Si signifies the earth and Doni is the sun. They believe that,
the sun, the moon, the earth and the natural elements around them play
a vital part in their day to day functions. It is with these factors in
back ground that their important festivals are performed. During the festival 'Etting',
rice powder mixed with Apeng (rice-beer) is made to a paste and everyone
liberally applied with it. Everybody contributes in kind and cash. Si-Doni
festival being conducted on a large scale cannot be performed individually
due to huge expenditure involved. Hence it is celebrated collectively.
The local youths work day and night for about a month in preparation of
the festival. The elderly person who form the members of the Si-Doni committee
direct the operations and the selected Nibu (priest) guides and performs
the Si-Doni festival like 1) Sune-Rabo, 2) Takar, 3) Gene Koni Bakar and
Hoye Penam. It is understood that by celebrating the Si-Doni festival
the creators Si and Doni would not only be satisfied but also bless the
people with good crops and prevent diseases. In fact Si-Doni festival
is the festival for prosperity, plenty and success. During this festival
boys and girls in colourful dresses and split bamboo head gears (Donger)
sing and dance.
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