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Ornaments and Costumes
The Apatanis
wear the physical marking or decoration in the form of putting of earring,
nose plugs, tattooing etc. Even still born children are decorated before
they are buried. Children are tied a piece of woolen black threads on
their waist, wrist and hinge after birth. The earrings is worn both by
male and female.
Usually male wear cane knitted ring which is locally
called Tarin and is beautifully knitted from a particular cane known
as Taer yasso. The priests must put on the ring when they attend certain
ceremonial occasions like Murung, Myoko, Subu etc and these ceremonies
are collectively called as Tiggo Uhi.
The male members keep long hair and make a knot on the
forehead known as piiding after carefully combing with a comb made of
bamboo. On the knot, there is a skew horizontally tied with Dinchu (a
metal chain). The women wear a number of chain of blue beads on their
neck usually. The male members put a particular white bead called Milosampo
during occasions and children put on ring of white beads known as Rite
comonly. The grown-up male members girdle a loin belt along with a cane
matted hanging from the waist like a tail which is called Ahu-Yari. They
also put on a number of cane matted ring known as Huring on the waist.
The matured women wear well knitted British type skirt and thick blouse
with white and black colour.
Marriage
Apatanis practice monogamy
in general but a man may polygamise
when he has no male child or his wife is barren or he is of a well to-do-family
which can provide sufficient food and shelter or with the consent of his
first wife. Polyandry
system is totally unknown. The cross cousin marriage and ciciberism practices
are not approved. The Apatanis treat the wife of the elder brother as
a second mother and the wife of the younger brother as own sister. The
customs of the marriage of the Apatanis have no age bar. Marriage is socially
approved within the seven villages according to the class and
status. Class means 'Gyuchi' and 'Gyutii' and the status means economic
status.
The marriage in the Apatani society also may be arranged
either by negotiations or by elopement or by the capturing.
In the negotiation marriage, the boy side must test an
omen from chicken liver secretly before taking any decision and carefully
examining it. The chicken omen is tested whether she will agree and lead
a fruitful life with children and prosperity. If the omen favour it, the
two cousin brothers of the boy go to the house of the girl's parents taking
the right omen and these two brothers are known as Gyunta.The right omen
of the boy is carefully scrutinized by the parents of the girl who also
test an omen from chicken liver. If this omen is also right, the girl's
parents arrange for a formal engagement.
After the preparation of rice beer and meat, the
girl's parents inform the parents of the boy for engagement. On
this occasion, the boy along with his Gyunta go to her house and the boy
give a Tibetan sword known as Chiri to the parents of the girl.
This kind of betrothal is like promising that she is his legal wife
from that day. The girl's side also betroths a locally produced cloth
known as Mabo-pulye to the boy along with a dainty meal and rice
beer. After these formalities, if both the parents wish they may decide
for the exchange of rice and mithun for more or less religious importance,
which is known as Rutu Pini. The boys side should present a half grown
mithun (sido) to the parents of the girl. In return, the boy brings 70
to100 baskets of rice from the brides parents and this rice is known as
Arirutu.
Next day, there is an occasion known as Pyali Banii.
On this occasion, the sisters of the bride bring small baskets containing
varieties of rice for the bride and the groom. If the groom's parents
wish, some small rites are performed in the house of the groom and this
performance is called Amohini. During that ceremony, pig and many
other fowls are sacrificed to God and Goddesses who bring life and prosperity
to the bride-groom. Apatanis approve the remarriage of both widows and
widowers.
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